This striking mid-19th-century oil painting by German artist Wilhelm Trautschold (1815-1877) depicts a bearded gentleman, shown half-length against a softly toned background. His head turned slightly as if caught in a moment of thought.
With a calm and attentive gaze, directed outward yet inward at the same time, he projects the impression of a man accustomed to reflection rather than display. Draped in a dark fur-collared coat over a crisp white shirt, he is rendered with a quiet authority that feels earned rather than asserted.
The handling is sensitive and assured. The face is modelled through gentle tonal transitions rather than sharp outlines, allowing light to move softly across the forehead, eyes, and cheekbones. The fur collar is suggested with breadth and economy, its texture conveyed through mass and movement. There is nothing showy here, and no attempt at social theatre; the strength of the portrait lies in its restraint.
An inscription on the reverse identifies the sitter as an ear doctor by the name of ‘Vohsen’, a former student friend of ‘Karl Wenzel’, and names Trautschold as the painter. This suggests that the work was likely made privately rather than as a formal commission. Read in this light, the painting takes on the character of an intimate study: one learned man observed by another.
Trautschold was widely respected during his lifetime as a portrait painter, particularly for his depictions of academics, scientists, and professional figures. He worked between Germany and England - based in London for many years. This portrait reveals the qualities that define his best work: patience, balance, and a deep sensitivity to mood. It’s a presence that deepens with prolonged looking.
Trautschold is represented in numerous public collections, including at the V&A Museum, the Wellcome Collection, and the National Portrait Gallery.
Inscribed on the reverse and held in its original gilt composition frame with a broad cushioned moulding, finely worked foliate runs, and pronounced corner cartouches with turned bosses.
Learn more about Wilhelm Trautschold in our directory.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 32½” x 38” / 83cm x 97cm
Year of creation: c. 1850
Labels & Inscriptions: Inscribed on the reverse ‘Ohrenarzt Vohsen Studienfreund von Karl Wenzel gemalt von Trauschold, ca. 1850’.
Provenance: Private collection, Germany (Starnberg near Munich).
Condition: Cleaned. Faint stretcher marks. Craquelure throughout. The paint layer is stable. Frame in good condition with minor age-related wear.
Artist’s auction maximum: £25,460 for ‘Ophelia (1867)’, Oil on canvas, Sotheby’s, 19th Century European Paintings And Sculpture, New York, 24 May 1995 (lot 125).
Our reference: BRV2250
