Signed lower left, 'Frid. J. Bende.' for Friderika Bendéné Kovacsev (Hungarian, 1891-1975), titled, 'Notre Dame, Paris' and painted circa 1955. A lyrical and closely-observed view of the famous Parisian landmark in summer, shown towering above the Île de la Cité with flat-bottomed barges moored against the quay of the Seine, and colorfully dressed pedestrians passing through scenes of commercial activity. Born in Kuman, Hungary, Friderika Kovacsev first studied at the Budapest Academy under Oszkár Glatz and István Csók. From 1916, she exhibited widely and with success including at the Franz Josefs Institute, the Museum of Balassagyarmat and also at the Salon des Rath-Museum where her work was purchased by the Queen of Serbia. The artist is listed in relevant art-reference works including Thieme-Becker's Allgemeines Lexikon der Bildenden Künstler. Reference: Dictionary of Women Artists: An International Dictionary of Women Artists born before 1900; Thieme-Becker Allgemeines Lexikon der Bildenden Künstler von der Antike bis zu Gegenwart, Ulrich Thieme and Felix Becker, Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag 1992, Vol. 21/22, page 363;Chris Petteys, Boston: G.K. Hall 1985, page 407; Artist Biographies Master Index, editor Barbara McNeil, Detroit: Gale Research Co. 1986, page 345; et al. (N.B. Born Friderika Kovacsev, the artist subsequently married J. Bendé and, in keeping with Hungarian tradition, thereafter added the suffix "-né" to her husband's given name.)