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Lot Essay
This previously unpublished drawing is the pendant to Bauernkirmes in the Staatliche Museen, Kupferstichkabinett, Berlin (Inv. 875; H. Geissler, Zeichnung in Deutschland, Deutsche Zeichner 1540-1640, II, p. 159, no. O 15, ). Close in size to the present sheet (17.9 x 28.9 cm.), it is dated 1587, and both drawings show a view of Danzig in the background, with the church of St. Mary's dominating the townscape. The present drawing with its bawdy, contemporary subject matter derives from the work of Pieter Brueghel the Elder (circa 1525/30-1569) and his school. The rich penwork, contrasting sharp linearity and cross hatching with vigorous curves, shows the influence of Lucas van Leyden (circa 1489/94-1533).
Anton Möller, son of a doctor to the court of Duke Albrecht I of Prussia, was the most important artist in the West Prussian region of Danzig and Königsberg, working as a painter, draughtsman and woodcutter. He spent his apprenticeship in Königsberg where he mainly studied prints by Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528). His drawing of Joachim and the Angel of 1582, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Acc. No. 2003.366) is based on a woodcut from Dürer's Life of the Virgin (Bartsch 78). By 1587 Möller was in Danzig, and received his first commission in 1588 to decorate the Artushof, the main meeting hall for the merchants of Danzig. One of his most important painted works is a monumental Last Judgement in the Artushof personifying virtues and vices. After a trip to the Netherlands, and perhaps to Italy he returned in 1590 and worked mainly for the Protestant church, guilds and corporations for the remainder of his career. Möller has a very small graphic oeuvre consisting of about 25 completed drawings and a set of 23 woodcuts from 1601 depicting the costumes of Danzig women. Much of what is known about him can be found in Geissler's catalogue entries (op. cit., pp. 159-160).
There is a copy of this drawing of approximately the same size (17.4 x 26.2 cm.) in Brunswick.
Anton Möller, son of a doctor to the court of Duke Albrecht I of Prussia, was the most important artist in the West Prussian region of Danzig and Königsberg, working as a painter, draughtsman and woodcutter. He spent his apprenticeship in Königsberg where he mainly studied prints by Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528). His drawing of Joachim and the Angel of 1582, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Acc. No. 2003.366) is based on a woodcut from Dürer's Life of the Virgin (Bartsch 78). By 1587 Möller was in Danzig, and received his first commission in 1588 to decorate the Artushof, the main meeting hall for the merchants of Danzig. One of his most important painted works is a monumental Last Judgement in the Artushof personifying virtues and vices. After a trip to the Netherlands, and perhaps to Italy he returned in 1590 and worked mainly for the Protestant church, guilds and corporations for the remainder of his career. Möller has a very small graphic oeuvre consisting of about 25 completed drawings and a set of 23 woodcuts from 1601 depicting the costumes of Danzig women. Much of what is known about him can be found in Geissler's catalogue entries (op. cit., pp. 159-160).
There is a copy of this drawing of approximately the same size (17.4 x 26.2 cm.) in Brunswick.