#59 • Eustace Paul Ziegler Oil Painting of Eudoxia
Part of June 2026 Premier Auction (live auction by Alaska Premier Auctions & Appraisals)
High bid $3,100.00
Status: Sold
Category: Art
An original oil on canvas portrait by renowned Alaska master Eustace Paul Ziegler (1881-1969), depicting Eudoxia, affectionately known as "Doxie," one of the artist's favorite and most frequently painted models. Shown with a dignified, direct gaze, Doxie is attired in fur garments accented by colorful beadwork jewelry and set against a softly rendered backdrop that allows her striking features to command the composition. Executed with bold palette knife work and expressive brushstrokes, the painting embodies the spontaneity and painterly confidence that distinguish Ziegler's finest portraits. Born in Michigan and educated at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Royal Academy in Munich, Ziegler first came to Alaska in 1909 and settled permanently after accepting a teaching position at the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines in Fairbanks in 1924. He would become one of the legendary "Alaska Four," alongside Sydney Laurence, Ted Lambert, and Jules Dahlager, helping establish the foundation of Alaska's fine art tradition. His paintings are represented in major museums and prominent private collections, and important examples have realized six-figure prices at auction. Portraits of Alaska Native men and women remain among Ziegler's most recognizable and beloved subjects, and few individuals appear more often throughout his career than Eudoxia "Doxie." Identified as an Athabascan woman from the Wood River drainage near Tanana, Doxie inspired a substantial body of work by the artist and appears in numerous compositions spanning decades, most notably alongside her son Basil in the celebrated painting Doxie and Basil, now in the Alaska State Capitol collection. Whereas many of Ziegler's Native portraits depict anonymous sitters, works portraying Doxie document a specific individual with whom the artist developed a lasting familiarity and admiration, lending these paintings an especially personal quality. The present work captures Doxie in a more intimate and formal manner than many of the narrative scenes for which she served as a model. Her strong facial features, dark braids, and vibrant beadwork are rendered with remarkable economy and sensitivity, conveying both individuality and quiet strength. The painting is additionally inscribed "Eudoxia" and "Doxie" within the composition and bears Ziegler's celebrated cache monogram, further enhancing its appeal and historical significance. Signed lower left with the artist's famous cache monogram and inscribed "Eudoxia" and "Doxie" lower right. Housed in a gilt frame with linen liner, the piece measures approximately 17.75" x 15.75" overall with an image sight size of 12" x 10". Representing one of the artist's most enduring and recognizable subjects, this portrait stands as a compelling example of Ziegler's lifelong fascination with the people of Alaska and his remarkable ability to imbue his sitters with dignity, humanity, and timeless presence. Provenance: J. Franklin Fine Art, Inc. - Seattle, WA The collection of Charles (Charlie) McAlpine (1932-2019) Private collection, Anchorage, AK
