Provenance
In 2013 the painting was acquired by American Legacy Fine Arts from a Los Angeles art gallery who acquired the painting in 2012 from a private collector in Davis, California who acquired the work circa 1952 directly from the Los Angeles studio of Theodore N. Lukits.
Description
Theodore Nikolai Lukits collected Asian art objects, which he incorporated into his painting compositions. In "Meditation," created circa 1944, the central figure of a wood-carved Buddha is surrounded by exotic novelties -- jade carved snuff bottle, yellow-amber bead necklace -- and set against an elaborate wallpaper of pink peonies.
Lukits is known for his paintings of atmospheric plein air landscapes, portraits of Hollywood personalities from the "Golden Era" and Asian still lifes, a subject that was greatly influenced by the artist Hovsep Pushman (1877–1966).
Exhibitions
American Legacy Fine Arts, Los Angeles Art Show, LA Convention Center, January 15-19, 2014
