19th Century Continental Oil on Board Monk Smoking a Cigarette

Description

This small and charming oil on panel depicts an old monk lounging in an armchair with crossed hands while smoking … more This small and charming oil on panel depicts an old monk lounging in an armchair with crossed hands while smoking a cigar, a large German beer stein beside him. He looks in our direction with a tired, introverted gaze. The scene takes place in a shabby room, with exposed brick and old wooden structures, typical of traditional genre scenes. Housed in a giltwood frame, unsigned and unattributed.

This painting in particular is a faithful reproduction of a piece dated 1890, “The Thoughtful Cellar Master”, by Eduard von Grützner (1846-1925), who was a renowned German genre painter in the late 19th century. Eduard von Grützner, was especially known for his numerous depictions of monastic life, as seen in the subject matter of this reproduction.

Numerous copies of the original painting by other artists have sold at auction, each with artistic liberties and stylistic variations. This copy applies a looser paint technique than the original allowing the viewer to see the tactile nature of the oils and the surface of the panel. This looser technique also enables the viewer to focus largely on the mood of the painting rather than simply the rendering. These deviations gives the painting a playful charm in comparison the controlled techniques of the original.

This painting is a restful snapshot of monastic life and would be a treasured addition to a home office, living room, or den.

Panel: H=6.5 in. W=4.5 in.
With Frame: H=11 in. W=9 in. D=1.5 in. 3 lbs. less