Philipp Otto Runge: Creative and Ingenious - Rare Key Work of Romanticism at Ketterer-Auction

Munich, 12 April, 2011, (kk) - With Philipp Otto Runge’s ”Die Zeiten“ a main work of German Romanticist print art will be called up at Ketterer Kunst on 14 May. ”The rare first edition of this key work will definitely generate much interest, as a mere 25 copies are in existence world-wide, many are in possession of renowned museums“, thus Robert Ketterer.

Even Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, who was rather critical about Romanticism and its artists, was fascinated by Runge’s work. The great poet was enthused about both its formal grace and the ingenious combination of motifs, at the same time he was puzzled by the ”mazy mysticism“. A copy of the ‘Zeiten’ series adorned his music room in Weimar. ”This stuff makes crazy, it's bodacious and beautiful at the same time“ he said on occasion of a visit from the art collector Sulpiz Boisserée.

Philipp Otto Runge worked on this series of etchings, which is of high importance for German Romanticism and art history in general, in Dresden since late 1802. He created the cycle as complements in terms of form and content and composed the sheets like a symphony. The very rare first edition was released in 25 copies by Perthes in Hamburg in 1805 and made for great interest and demand among renowned contemporaries, so that Runge decided to release a second edition of presumably 250 copies in 1807. The duplication of the “Zeiten“ had great impact on artists such as Schinkel and Schwind. The engravings’ unusual large format emphasizes the artistic standard and programmatic rank of the series as one of the main graphic works of Romanticism. The estimate is at EUR 40.000-60.000.

Besides two oil paintings (estimates: each EUR 18.000-24.000) by Eduard Léon Cortès, which atmospherically render the Parisian Place de la Madeleine, and a ”Flussufer“ on oil on wood (estimate: EUR 12.000-16.000) by Paul Désiré Trouillebert, the section of Art of the 19th Century particularly captivates art lovers with Stanislas Lépine’s ”Landschaft mit Pferdefuhrwerk“ (estimate: EUR 12.000-16.000) and an oil painting from around 1870 by Friedrich Preller the Younger. In this large-size landscape, also estimated at EUR 12.000-16.000, the Weimar artist achieves to capture the immediate impression of nature of the magnificent panorama of Pieve di Cadore, the birthplace of Titian.

Among the main sculptures by Franz von Stucks doubtlessly counts the ”Amazone“, made in 1897 (estimate: EUR 12.000-16.000). It is a striking combination of the two central themes that dominate the artist’s creation. Athletic bodies merge with the lusty and emancipated idea of women in this ancient female combatant. At the same time Stuck’s bronze served as a model for, among others, the large Amazon in front of the portico at the Villa Stuck in Munich.

Besides Jules Achille Noël’s ”Hafen in der Bretagne“ (estimate: EUR 9.000-12.000), other exciting works come from Abraham Blommaert (von Middelburg), Alexei Charlamov (Harlamoff), Edward Theodore Compton, Franz von Defregger, Jules Louis Dupré, Eduard von Grützner and Alexander Koester.

In the section of Old Masters a ”Madonna mit Kind“ from the circle around Bernardino Luini could be obtained for EUR 25.000-30.000. The oil painting from around 1480/85 shows clear parallels to the few known works by the Lombard Renaissance painter. Particularly the fresco of the ”Madonna del Roseto“, today in possession of the Pinacoteca di Brera, shows clear similarities in terms of its composition.

The “Blumenstillleben mit Kirschblüten und Tulpen“ from the surroundings of Jean-Baptiste Belin has been estimated at EUR 20.000-25.000. Both for the usage of the Rocaille motif, as well as for the flower’s easy and asymmetrical arrangement which expands into the image area it can be assumed that the work was made in the early 18th century.

In Flanders a ”Landschaft mit Flusslauf“ was made in the second quarter of the 17th century. The oil painting on wood in a size of 123,5 x 158,5 comes from a Swiss private collection and has been estimated at EUR 12.000-16.000.

The range of offerings is topped off by two drawings by Filippo Maria Giuntotardis from 1807 (estimate: EUR 12.000-16.000), as well as with works by Albrecht Dürer, Adriaen van Ostade and Antonie Waterloo. While the first is represented with the 1514 engraving “Saint Jerome in His Study“, several rare early prints will be auctioned off by the latter.

Preview
selected works
18 - 19 April, Ketterer Kunst, Meßberg 1, 20095 Hamburg
21, 23 and 26 - 27 April, Ketterer Kunst, Fasanenstr. 70, 10719 Berlin

all works
2 - 6 May, Ketterer Kunst, Joseph-Wild-Str. 18, 81829 Munich-Riem

Auction
14 May - Old Masters and Art of the 19th Century
at Ketterer Kunst, Joseph-Wild-Str. 18, Munich-Riem (fairgrounds)

Since it was founded in 1954, Ketterer Kunst has been firmly established in the front ranks of auction houses dealing in fine art and rare books, with its headquarters in Munich and a branch in Hamburg. Gallery rooms in Berlin as well as representatives in Heidelberg and Krefeld have contributed substantially to the company's success. Ketterer Kunst has further topped off its portfolio with the prestigious Ernest Rathenau Verlag, New York/Munich. In addition, exhibitions, special theme and charity auctions as well as online auctions are regular events at Ketterer Kunst. Robert Ketterer is auctioneer and owner of Ketterer Kunst

Contact:

Ketterer Kunst
Joseph-Wild-Str. 18
81829 München
Tel. +49-(0)55244-444
Fax.: +49-(0)55244-177
E-mail: infomuenchen@kettererkunst.de

For press enquiries:
Michaela Derra M.A.
Telefon: +49-(0)89-55244-152 (Fax: -177)
E-Mail: m.derra@kettererkunst.de

This release was published on openPR.