Ludwig von Hoffman (1861-1945): Junge in Einer Felslandschaft (Boy in Rocky Landscape)

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These seldom seen works by Ludwin von Hoffman (1861-1945) keep popping up occasionally in European Auction Houses, this time in the current catalog of Villa Grisebach Auktionen, Berlin, DE. I do not recall ever seeing this one in books on his works, still a nicely executed study of a male youth in landscape. If you have an extra six thousand Euros to get the bidding war going you might want to throw your name in the pot.

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June 11, 2013: A seller on eBay Germany has listed another seldom seen von Hoffman drawing, this time a nice watercolor study for two thousand Euros. Enjoy.

 

 

Raffaello Resio (Genoa 1854 - Savona 1927): Standing Bacchus

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Our friend Mattia Jona at La Portantina di Mattia Jona, Milan, Italy has listed his latest acquisitions and this beautiful study really impressed me. It is a brush and ink study of Bacchus by Raffaello Resio (1854-1927). According to the description "Resio studied in Genoa, at the Accademia Ligustica, and made his debut in the late 1870's with paintings of military subjects. There followed a period of study and work in Rome, where he participated (1880-1887) in the exhibitions of the 'Società degli Amatori e Cultori', with Roman landscapes, Ligurian and Neapolitan views, genre scenes and paintings of historical subject. In Liguria he was also very active as a fresco painter of churches." (Illustration and biography courtesy La Portantina di Mattie Jona, Milan, Italy)

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Hans-Ferdinand Tönnies (1878-1973): Sitzender Mädchenakt im Atelier - 1904

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Kunstauktionshaus Schloss Ahlden has listed this beautiful female nude study by Hans-Ferdinand Tonnies (1878-1973) in their latest Auction catalog. Unfortunately, I could find scant information on the artist although there is a German Socialogist/Philosopher by the same name. The artist obviously has absolute control over his medium.

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Karl Schdmit (1890-1962): Dramatic California Sunset - 1928

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I was browsing my usual haunts this morning when I came across this beautiful work. I know it really is outside the purview of this blog but I just had to share it with you just for the sheer joy of it. I have long been an admirer of the Mission Style and in particular the California School of painters from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.I wish I had that control of color that Schmidt exhibits in this work. Every thing just seems to come together in this work, the composition, the color, and that beautiful frame, which was no doubt designed by the artist to compliment that beautiful painting. Here is the description of the work Doyle New York provided with the illustration:

"Karl Schmidt American, 1890-1962 A Dramatic California Sunset, 1928: Triptych Signed Karl Schmidt and dated 1928 left panel (lr) Oil on card laid down on board Overall 8 3/4 x 17 3/4 inches; center panel 8 3/4 x 10 1/2 inches, left panel 8 3/4 x 3 1/2 inches, right panel 8 3/4 x 3 1/2 inches Provenance: Private collection, San Francisco, CA A painter, ceramics designer, and art teacher, Schmidt was born in Worcester, Massachusetts. By 1917, he had moved to Santa Barbara, California, where he was associated with the group of painters who worked in California artist Alexander Harmer`s mission-style studio. In California, Schmidt developed a decorative painting mode in which he abstracted landscape forms, rendering them as flat planes of color thoughtfully arranged within his compositions. His approach suggests the influence of the art of Arthur Wesley Dow, whose method was disseminated by the many Dow students who settled in the Los Angeles area in the early twentieth century. This triptych of magnificent sunset colors and soft-shaped trees and clouds is hinged together in original frames."

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Circle of Domenico Zampieri (Domenichino) (1581-1641) - 17th Century: Ganymede - Cup Bearer to the Gods

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A seller on eBay France has listed this nicely executed depiction of Ganymede (Cup Bearer of the Gods), circle of Domenichino. He speculated that the figure might be Young St. John (Not even close). Anyone with half an active brain could read the symbology of that Eagle and the gold cup and that sexually seductive look on that boy's face. I sent him an email and corrected him on the identity of that mysterious youth. I am sure that painting is darker than a stack of black cats and the photographs he posted were illuminated by a million watt bulb, that's how it usually works with some of the European sellers. Dissemblance seems to be a major past-time with some of these guys, just a comment from my personal experience. Anywho, a nicely executed study of a very  popular guy (in Olympus and other circles of lust and passion in the universe...I think someone once said, tongue-in-cheek: "There's nothing so soft as a little boy's cheek...", which cheek, however, being definitely up for debate). Ganymede definitely pissed off Hebe, whom he replaced as the favorite of Zeus. Who can blame her, being upstaged by a young upstart shepherd whose only attribute was his good looks and soft cheeks. Wait a minute, I think I get it now.

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Georg Emil Reineck (1848-1916): Standing Nude Youth (Bronze) 1901

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A seller on eBay Germany has posted an example of Georg Reineck's Standing Nude Youth. I would expect the sale to top a thousand Euros and up at its end. Reineck is a well listed German sculptor but unfortunately I did not have enought time this morning to dig for his biography.

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Unknown Italian Artist - 19th Century: Female Nude in Ivory

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I was browsing auctions in Germany this morning and I came across this beautifully executed sculpture of a kneeling female nude currently listed in the auction catalog of Kunst & Auctionshaus Kasern in Hannover, DE. It is of Italian origin, 19th century, and by the hand of an unknown artist in a medium you would not find in this day and time, for very good reasons. Still, beautifully executed.

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