MARIA SZANTHO (1897-1997 Oil on canvas Maria Szantho 1927 80x60cm with frame 104x84cm Maria Szantho was a Hungarian painter who was born in 1898. Maria Szantho's work has been offered at auction multiple times, with realized prices ranging from 200 USD to 26,261 USD, depending on the size and medium of the artwork. Since 1998 the record price for this artist at auction is 26,261 USD for Sweet Dreams, sold at Christie's South Kensington in 1999. The artist died in 1998. Maria Szantho (Szeged, July 31, 1897 - Nagymagocs, March 11, 1998) was a Hungarian artist. She exhibited from the mid 1920’s at major art galleries such as the Mûcsarnok in Budapest. She had a collected exhibition in Budapest in 1936. Her work is timeless. She specialised in portraying women posing nude against a landscape, also still lives and portraits. Her models are hedonistically portrayed, she used elements of impressionism and romance. Maria Szantho was born on July 31, 1897 in the city of Szeged which is in the south part of Hungary. She was born with a caul. According to the Hungarian tradition anyone born with a caul will have a lucky life. Indeed, she had an extraordinary life, gifted in arts, and achieved fame and international appreciation and honour. Her paintings are well known at the best galleries and auction houses, and are valued parts of any collection She married three times. All three of her husbands passed away and she never had any children. Her third husband was Dr. Ferenc Klauschek, hence some sources mention her as Klauschek Ferencné (“né” is the equivalent of Mrs. in Hungarian). She signed all her paintings with her maiden name. Szantho Maria’s first love was music, she was a talented piano player and finished her music studies as a teacher. She earned her Diploma at the Hungarian Music Academy on piano faculty. Her Diploma was signed by Zoltán Kodály the famous Hungarian composer. Shortly after completing her music studies she had decided to pursue her interest in painting. On her 100th birthday on July 31, 1997 a Minister of the Hungarian Republic greeted her on her birthday party at Nagymágocs, Hungary. On October 23, 1997 she received one of the highest official Hungarian recognitions. Árpád Göncz then President of the Republic of Hungary awarded her with the decoration of the Officer’s Grand Cross of the Hungarian Republic to honour her lifetime achievement. bácsai Szánthó Mária passed away at the age of 100 and half year on March 11, 1998 in Nagymágocs, Hungary at the Castle Karolyi (Károlyi Kastély). She is buried at the local cemetery together with her brother Dr. Kálmán Szánthó 19 april 2015