.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
Theodor Horschelt was born in Munich in 1829 and exhibited a talent for drawing at a young age, receiving his first drawing lessons from Michael Echter. Horschelt studied briefly at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich under the tutelage of Hermann Anschütz in the late 1840’s, though quickly left to work in the studio of father-son duo Albrecht and Franz Adam, both notable battle and horse painters. Horschelt was largely an autodidact, preferring to learn through the relentless observation of life and painting en plein air than within the strict structure of the Academy.
In 1853, Horschelt made two foreign trip which impacted artistic development. Initially, Horschelt traveled to Paris and throughout France with author Friedrich Wilhelm Hackländer. Following this journey, Horschelt and Hackländer were joined by architect Christian Friedrich von Leins in Marseille and from there undertook a tour of Spain. Upon reaching Gibraltar, Horschelt crossed the strait to explore the deserts from North Africa to Algiers, while Hackländer and von Leins returned to Marseille. Horschelt had longed to see the Orient firsthand and this experience intensified his desire to visit the Caucasus region.
Caravan in the Desert is most likely a result of this artistic journey, as the scene is one Horschelt would have probably experienced firsthand while traversing the deserts of Northern Africa. The artist has captured with precision the scantily-clad figures in the foreground resting on the ground while the horses drink from the well and the leaders of the caravan prepare to continue across the desolate region. Special attention has been paid to rendering of drapery and fabrics, with particular care taken to capture the translucence of the veils and drapery of the two central figures. Caravan in the Desert demonstrates the influence of the Düsseldorf school, which he would have learned of while under the instruction of Anschütz, in the pinks and yellows in the sky used to evoke the strong clear light of the desert in the heat of the day. Also evident in the present work is Horschelt’s exceptional ability to paint horses and capture in detail their intricate musculature, which he developed in the early years of his artistic education while sketching at the Royal Stables in Stuttgart.
In 1853, Horschelt made two foreign trip which impacted artistic development. Initially, Horschelt traveled to Paris and throughout France with author Friedrich Wilhelm Hackländer. Following this journey, Horschelt and Hackländer were joined by architect Christian Friedrich von Leins in Marseille and from there undertook a tour of Spain. Upon reaching Gibraltar, Horschelt crossed the strait to explore the deserts from North Africa to Algiers, while Hackländer and von Leins returned to Marseille. Horschelt had longed to see the Orient firsthand and this experience intensified his desire to visit the Caucasus region.
Caravan in the Desert is most likely a result of this artistic journey, as the scene is one Horschelt would have probably experienced firsthand while traversing the deserts of Northern Africa. The artist has captured with precision the scantily-clad figures in the foreground resting on the ground while the horses drink from the well and the leaders of the caravan prepare to continue across the desolate region. Special attention has been paid to rendering of drapery and fabrics, with particular care taken to capture the translucence of the veils and drapery of the two central figures. Caravan in the Desert demonstrates the influence of the Düsseldorf school, which he would have learned of while under the instruction of Anschütz, in the pinks and yellows in the sky used to evoke the strong clear light of the desert in the heat of the day. Also evident in the present work is Horschelt’s exceptional ability to paint horses and capture in detail their intricate musculature, which he developed in the early years of his artistic education while sketching at the Royal Stables in Stuttgart.