3295
Spitzweg, Carl
1808 Munich - 1885 ibid.
Standing female nude, torso.
Circa 1831 - 35. Pencil on paper. Estate stamp (rhombus and signature stamp, Lugt 2307) lower right and inscribed probably by a different hand «N 27. L (three circles)». Verso on the passepartout on a collection label typographically titled, inscribed «Carl Spitzweg, 1808 - 1885» and numbered «281a - 13 - 27».
H 43, W 26 cm (sheet). Unframed.
The self-taught artist Spitzweg not only enrolled as a guest in the nude class at the Munich Academy in the early 1830s, but also studied the ways of nude drawing with the Nazarenes and the English and French draughtsmen working in Italy during his visit to Naples (1832) via Venice and Rome. On trips to Vienna (1833 and 1836) he visited the «Museum Belvedere» and studied the art collection there. The nude drawing presented here is from his early period.
«Several nude drawings are known from Spitzweg's œuvre, some of them even bear the name of the person depicted. Most of these nude drawings were done between 1831 and 1835.» (Detlef Rosenberger, Oberostendorf, 01.06.2020).
Spitzweg's interest in the exact imitation and reproduction of human nature on paper is evident. He often presents his models in space or at least with hints of deep spatial interaction.
«Carl Spitzweg had executed many nude drawings in his early days, as he was interested in reproducing the figures with convincing anatomical accuracy, no matter how old-fashioned they looked. Many of his figures in the ‹glücklichen Winkel› (picturesque corner) were first created as nude figures and then draped with costumes. It is quite vivid how Spitzweg captures and reproduces the extremely realistic, almost veristic model as a draft. But he also introduces already idiosyncratic motion patterns into the nude drawing. For this very purpose he often changed his point of view in nude classes, circling the model as it were and thus drawing from all sides. It was important to him to capture and reproduce the spatial and physical meaning of the model.» from: Siegfried Wichmann, Spitzweg, Zeichnungen und Skizzen, Munich 1985, p. 79.
Statement: Detlef Rosenberger, Oberostendorf, 01.06.2020.
We would like to thank Detlef Rosenberger, Oberostendorf, for the scientific consultation, based on the original.
Provenance: Collection Emil Keck inventory number 281a - 13 - 27; estate Curt Edgar Schreiber, former managing director of the watch factory Mauthe, Schwenningen, and successors.
Catalogue raisonné: The work is listed in the upcoming digital catalogue raisonné by Detlef Rosenberger.

Condition report