Lot Essay
Although this work is listed in Grimschitz (loc. cit) as 'Erntesene am Hallstättersee', Professor Feuchtmuller suggests the view as being the Vierwalstättersee, showing the Meggen and Altstad, looking south, with the narrowing of the lake between Obere and Untere Nase, and the Bürgenstock to the right.
Dr Klaus Beitl, Director of the Osterreichischen Museums für Volkskunde, has identified the female costumes as typical of the rococo inspired regional costume for the cantons of Lucerne, as well as Bern, Aargan and Unterwalden. They wear Schnürmiederröcken (specially tied shirts) with disc shaped hats made of straw, placed flatly on their heads, decorated with colourful bands and flowers. These were often worn in the Swiss Middle Region during the 18th and 19th Centuries, and also serve to indicate the economic importance of the strawwork industry in Aargan. The man to the left holds a 'Bridepflock', an instrument used to tie together wheat.
The records of the Akademie der bildenden Künste in Vienna confirms that Waldmüller had applied for visas for Switzerland and Italy on 8th July 1844 and, it appears that he carried out the journey.
It has also been suggested that the view depicts the Wolfgansee, seen from Altaussee towards Dachstein, to the left of which is the Grimming.
This work was executed in the same year as one of his most well-known pictures, Die Verehrung des Heiligen Johannes, now in the Historisches Museum der Stadt Wein.
Dr Klaus Beitl, Director of the Osterreichischen Museums für Volkskunde, has identified the female costumes as typical of the rococo inspired regional costume for the cantons of Lucerne, as well as Bern, Aargan and Unterwalden. They wear Schnürmiederröcken (specially tied shirts) with disc shaped hats made of straw, placed flatly on their heads, decorated with colourful bands and flowers. These were often worn in the Swiss Middle Region during the 18th and 19th Centuries, and also serve to indicate the economic importance of the strawwork industry in Aargan. The man to the left holds a 'Bridepflock', an instrument used to tie together wheat.
The records of the Akademie der bildenden Künste in Vienna confirms that Waldmüller had applied for visas for Switzerland and Italy on 8th July 1844 and, it appears that he carried out the journey.
It has also been suggested that the view depicts the Wolfgansee, seen from Altaussee towards Dachstein, to the left of which is the Grimming.
This work was executed in the same year as one of his most well-known pictures, Die Verehrung des Heiligen Johannes, now in the Historisches Museum der Stadt Wein.