Lot Essay
On 22 March 1856, Kaulbach was commissioned by the Munich publisher Friedrich Bruckmann to produce 18 grisailles and drawings for illustrations of Goethe's Faust and the most important of the 'Fraugestaten' (woman figures) for the book entitled 'der Geothe-Galerie'. With three further illustrations of the life of the young Goethe, 21 works in all were carried out between 1856 and 1864.
The Lotte grisaille from Werther's Leiden (Werther's Troubles) was considered the most successful by critics of the time, due to the lively expression, gracefulness and composition.
'Lotte stands among her younger brothers and sisters, cutting bread and oblivious that she is being watched by Werther at the door, who is deeply moved by the scene. From our point of view, the subject falls within the taste of the sentimental, sensuous and demure period.' [Evelyn Lehmann and Elke Riemer, Die Kaulbachs p. 73 (translated)].
This work is believed by family tradition to have been purchased from the Kaulbach estate and may have been a commission, following the success of the publication. Versions in oil of three others of the series have been sold at Neumeister auction rooms ('Gretchens Kirckgant', Auction 113, Lot 2051; 'Faust and Helen', Auction 128, Lot 1140, and 'Friederike', Auction 217, Lot 1169), but our picture is the only known version of 'Lotte' to have come to light, as well as being the largest.
Kaulbach was known to have been overjoyed by the quality of the printing of the Geothe Galerie, due to new reproduction techniques used by Bruckman. The artist had received commissions from the court and nobility, but the accessibility of the publication appealed equally to the educated 'Burger' and gained the approval of the ordinary citizen.
We are grateful to Dr Heilmann of the Neue Pinakotek, Munich for authenticating this picture.
The Lotte grisaille from Werther's Leiden (Werther's Troubles) was considered the most successful by critics of the time, due to the lively expression, gracefulness and composition.
'Lotte stands among her younger brothers and sisters, cutting bread and oblivious that she is being watched by Werther at the door, who is deeply moved by the scene. From our point of view, the subject falls within the taste of the sentimental, sensuous and demure period.' [Evelyn Lehmann and Elke Riemer, Die Kaulbachs p. 73 (translated)].
This work is believed by family tradition to have been purchased from the Kaulbach estate and may have been a commission, following the success of the publication. Versions in oil of three others of the series have been sold at Neumeister auction rooms ('Gretchens Kirckgant', Auction 113, Lot 2051; 'Faust and Helen', Auction 128, Lot 1140, and 'Friederike', Auction 217, Lot 1169), but our picture is the only known version of 'Lotte' to have come to light, as well as being the largest.
Kaulbach was known to have been overjoyed by the quality of the printing of the Geothe Galerie, due to new reproduction techniques used by Bruckman. The artist had received commissions from the court and nobility, but the accessibility of the publication appealed equally to the educated 'Burger' and gained the approval of the ordinary citizen.
We are grateful to Dr Heilmann of the Neue Pinakotek, Munich for authenticating this picture.