Lot Essay
The father of the present owners visited Meistermann in December 1953. He recorded the occasion in his diary:
28.12.53
"As I arrived at the station, no Georg Meistermann was to be seen. It was pouring too. I then took a train to his place, and found him to be very tidy; the studio was pleasantly warm. ... He was working on the portrait of Andreas Linfert, 11 years old [now in the Landesmuseum, Hanover]. ... He was very friendly again, courteous and like a father to me. I slept the night in his studio.
[29.12.53]
... As only 4 or 5 paintings were still available, and I did not want to have come in vain, I looked at the big paintings, which was not planned. Gelbe Sichel, 1953, Eisspiel, Bestürmter Baum, Ueber dem Horizont. I dared ask the price for Bestürmter Baum. It was priced at DM1800. I would have to pay DM1000 for it. ... In the afternoon I went for a walk through festive Cologne, because I needed fresh air and I had to rest my eyes. I returned at 20:30. ... I went to bed and gave up on Meistermann's return. But around 23:00, he appeared. ... Then we drank [a bottle of wine] together till 1:00, he sitting, me lying on the bed.
30. 12. 53
Woke up at 8:15. It was still raining. ... M. continued to paint the portrait. A work on board, Der tote Christus, 12 x 12cm, was in progress - one of his treasures. ... Only then did I ask for the price of Gelbe Sichel. As I could not decide between Bestürmter Baum and Gelbe Sichel, I bought them both!"
28.12.53
"As I arrived at the station, no Georg Meistermann was to be seen. It was pouring too. I then took a train to his place, and found him to be very tidy; the studio was pleasantly warm. ... He was working on the portrait of Andreas Linfert, 11 years old [now in the Landesmuseum, Hanover]. ... He was very friendly again, courteous and like a father to me. I slept the night in his studio.
[29.12.53]
... As only 4 or 5 paintings were still available, and I did not want to have come in vain, I looked at the big paintings, which was not planned. Gelbe Sichel, 1953, Eisspiel, Bestürmter Baum, Ueber dem Horizont. I dared ask the price for Bestürmter Baum. It was priced at DM1800. I would have to pay DM1000 for it. ... In the afternoon I went for a walk through festive Cologne, because I needed fresh air and I had to rest my eyes. I returned at 20:30. ... I went to bed and gave up on Meistermann's return. But around 23:00, he appeared. ... Then we drank [a bottle of wine] together till 1:00, he sitting, me lying on the bed.
30. 12. 53
Woke up at 8:15. It was still raining. ... M. continued to paint the portrait. A work on board, Der tote Christus, 12 x 12cm, was in progress - one of his treasures. ... Only then did I ask for the price of Gelbe Sichel. As I could not decide between Bestürmter Baum and Gelbe Sichel, I bought them both!"