Die Weinprobe. 1906.
Oil on canvas.
Signed and dated lower right. 40,5 x 30,5 cm (15,9 x 12 in).
With old label "Galerie Heinemann, München 8314" on verso. [CB].

This work is registered in the online documentation of Galerie Heinemann.

PROVENANCE: Galerie Heinemann, Munich 1906 (with label and gallery number "8314" on verso).

The village parson, who also enabled him to attend the grammar school in Neiße, was the first to recognize and encourage Eduard von Grützner's artistic interests. Together with the architect Hirschberg he send him to Hermann Dyck's private school in Munich in 1864, where Grützner studied drawing. Other teachers were Hiltensperger and Strähuber. In 1865 Grützner finally joined Anschütz' painting class at the academy. He also sought advice and ideas with Piloty before being accepted in his class in 1867. Three years later he left the academy and moved into his own studio. Beginning in his student years - with his student work "Im Klosterkeller" - he soon specialized in depicting monastic life. His popular scenes depict the merry atmosphere in cellars, kitchens and alehouses in a humorous and anecdotal manner. Among Piloty's students Grützner was one of the more traditional artists - in his style as well as his palette – like Franz von Defregger and Eduard Kurzbauer. Grützner was appointed professor at the Munich Akademie in 1886. Apart from his monastic pictures Grützner also produced a Falstaff-cycle, theatre and hunting scenes and affectionately detailed interior studies, which he often included in his monastic scenes. He also worked as a free-lance illustrator, caricaturist and graphic artist, many of his famous “Carousing Pictures“ were reproduced in magazines and contributed to his fame. Numerous awards deliver proof of his success: In 1880 Grützner received the Order of St. Michael, in 1886 Prince Regent of Bavaria Luitpold appointed him professor and in 1916 Grützner was ennobled by king Ludwig III. of Bavaria. In his later years he turned his attention to Asian art, on some of his painting the observer finds small Buddha statues or Chinese vases. Grützner died in 1925 in Munich. [CB].