August von Rentzell (1810-1891)

Die Post geht ab

Details
August von Rentzell (1810-1891)
Die Post geht ab
oil on canvas
11¼ x 9½ in. (29.2 x 24.1 cm.)
Provenance
L. Mossler, Berlin, 1932.
Literature
H. Rosenhagen, 'Bilder aus dem alten Berlin' in Monatsheft, Sept. 1932, pp. 66 and 70 (illustrated).
F. von Boetticher, Malerwerke des Neunzehnten Jahrhunderts, Minden, 1974, vol. II-1, p. 385, no. 8 (as Das verspätete Einpacken einer reisenden Familie. Wirtshausscene).
Exhibited
Berlin, Akademische Kunstausstellung, 1842.

Lot Essay

August von Rentzell, a Berlin genre painter, illustrates an era when time was not yet of the essence.

In Die Post geht ab, we see a Jewish family still in the middle of travel preparations while the driver, in the doorway of the inn, has arrived, announcing the coach's imminent departure. Only the grandmother, who is shown looking a little concerned, is ready while the rest of the family is still dressing and packing. The child, still in his night attire, has not finished breakfast, which only adds to the chaos.

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