Die Post

Details

Carl Spitzweg (1808-1885)
Die Post
signed with rhombus monogram (lower left)
oil on board
11¾ x 8½ in. (30 x 21.5 cm.)
Painted circa 1875-80

Provenance

Dr. Hermann Eissler.
The Krupp family and thence by descent.

Literature

G. Roennefahrt, Carl Spitzweg, 1960, p. 93, no. 1017 (illustrated). possibly F. von Boetticher, Malerwerke des Neunzehnten Jahrhunderts, Minden, 1974, vol. II-2, p. 789, no. 81.
J. C. Jensen, Carl Spitzweg. Zwischen Resignation und Zeitkritik, Cologne, 1977, pp. 64, 137 and 152, no. 44 (illustrated p. 67).

Exhibited

Essen, Villa Hügel, Kunstwerke aus Kirchen-, Museums-, und Privatbesitz, May-Sept. 1953, no. 31d.
Essen, Villa Hügel, Aus der Gemäldesammlung der Familie Krupp, 30 April-31 Oct. 1965, no. 87.
Munich, Haus der Kunst, Carl Spitzweg, Nov. 1985-Feb. 1986, no. 668.

Lot Essay

Jensen (op. cit., p. 64) compares Die Post with one of Spitzweg's earlier works, Die Briefbote im Rosenthal, painted circa 1858.

Both paintings show similar stylistic principles adopted by Spitzweg during his career: a dark, small alley towards the right-hand side of the painting, in between high buildings and brightly lit central compositions. In Die Post, however, he applies a looser brushstroke with softer contours and shadows to the figures and the architecture.

Roennefahrt (op. cit., p. 246) mentions another version measuring 41 x 32 cm., which was in a Swiss private collection circa 1939.

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