Francisco de Goya
Los Caprichos
80 Aquatint etchings, 1799
ca. 21,2 x 15 cm (c. 8.3 x 5.9 in)
Estimate: € 120.000-150.000

Munich, 21 October 2013, (kk) – Relentlessly and with bitter sarcasm, this is how Francisco de Goya depicted the situation of his days in the cycle of etchings "Los Caprichos". The masterpiece, made in Spain in 1799, will be sold by Ketterer Kunst in the auction of Old Masters & Art of the 19th Century on November 22. The estimate is at € 120.000-150.000.

Francisco de Goya, who was initially active as court painter under Karl IV and Joseph II as well as Ferdinand VII, developed an expressive and disturbing imagery in his later period of artistic creation. This way he openly accused the atrocities of war, the church's moral lapses as well as social and political miseries. With a sharp and critical mind he observed the world around him, and - like no other - rendered his impressions on paper.

The series of 80 sheets "Los Cparichos" is offered here in the both unusually rare first edition, released during the artist's lifetime, as well as in sixth edition with an estimate of € 12.000-15.000. Both editions originate from the remarkable collection of the Munich art historian Dr. Rolf Linnnenkamp, who is known as chief editor and co-publisher of "Kindlers Malerei-Lexikon" and the magazine "Pantheon".

Another top lot on the Old Masters auction list is Gillis I Coignet's late 16th century oil painting "Der Triumph der Wahrheit über die Sünde". The masterpiece by the Flemish artist was made at the peak of his artistic creation, which was strongly inspired by Titian. It will enter the race with an estimate of € 90.000-120.000.

Particularly charming is a series of Dutch paintings from two Southern German collections that both focus on the Golden Age. The group is led by Adriaen van Ostade's oil on panel "Ein Geiger unter Bauern". The scene, dated 1646, orignates from a period during which the artist finally attained his personal style. The outstanding work has been estimated at € 60.000-80.000.

In the lineup of Dutch masters, two works by Joost Cornelisz. Droochsloot and a "Früchtestillleben mit Blumenvase und Römer" by Michiel Simon's (estimate: € 20.000-30.000), as well as Ernst Stuven's "Blumenstillleben" (estimate: € 18.000-24.000) are also worthwhile mentioning.

The range of Dutch Masters is enhanced by more flower and fruit still lifes, among them works by Jan Peeter Brueghel and Joris van Son.

In the section of Old Masters, the range of offerings is completed by around a dozen works by Giovanni Battista Piranesi and several woodcuts by Albrecht Dürer as well as two etchings by Harmensz. Rembrandt van Rijn.

In the section of Art of the 19th Century Auguste Renoir's color lithograph "Le Chapeau épinglé", estimated at € 40.000-60.000 and Oswald Achenbach's poetic oil painting "Bei Ravallo, Bergstadt in der Campagna" will provide special splendor. Contrary to the conventions of the Duesseldorf School, that was creating effect through details, he focuses on the landscape's overall effect, the characteristic of it all. It has been estimated at € 40.000-50.000.

Next to a "Antike Szene" by Friedrich Preller the Elder, the oil painting "Dans la Forêt (Baignade à la Mare aux Canes)" in a size of 41 x 48 cm (16.1 x 18.8 in) by Maurice Denis will add splendor to the section. It has been estimated at € 15.000-20.000.

While a collection of renowned horse portraits by the Munich artists dynasty Adam as well as various hunting and animal scenes come from the possession of a Northen German noble family, paintings by Josef von Brandt, Franz von Defregger, Hugo Kauffmann, Friedrich August von Kaulbach and Franz von Stuck come from a collection that has been accumulated over generations by a family in Rhineland-Palatinate.

The auction's range of offerings is completed by two oil paintings by Oskar Mulley, each estimated at € 20.000-30.000, the color lithograph "Divan Japonais" (€ 12.000-15.000) by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and the complete first year of his magazine "Pan" with his "Mademoiselle Lender" bound in (estimate: € 6.000-8.000), as well as by high-quality works by, among others Edward Theodore Compton, Maurice Denis, Alexander Koester, Gabriel von Max and Alphonse Mucha.

Catalogs:

Call +49-(0)89-552440 or send an e-mail to a.krenski@kettererkunst.de for a free copy.

Preview:

Hamburg    31 Oct/1 November      Berlin     12 - 14. November
Dusseldorf    8/9 November            München    16 - 21 November