Bildnis Lydia Welti-Escher im roten Kleid

Stauffer visited his schoolmate Emil Welti and Welti's wife Lydia in autumn 1885 (cf. inv. 2538). In several letters the topic of costume and hairstyle was discussed with regard to the portrait to be painted in July 1886; Lydia suggested 'Roth silk plush or velvet with hat and train'; Stauffer remarks that 'white atlas preoccupies him at the moment'. He probably first made this attempt with the red robe. On July 12, he reports to his family that he has now found the right pose and intends to be finished in three weeks: from now on, there is only talk of the version in white. In 1887 Stauffer etched a third portrait of Lydia (Max Lehrs: Karl Stauffer-Bern, 1857-1891: ein Verzeichnis seiner Radierungen und Stiche, 1907, no. 34). Source