This late 19th-century oil painting by American-German artist Hermann Hartwich (1853-1926) depicts the interior of a palace.
Born in New York, Herman Hartwich was the son of renowned German landscape painter George Gunther ‘Hartwick’. At the age of 35, he moved to Munich to further his studies and soon forged an impressive career.
In 1880, he produced an oil painting of Prince Regent Luitpold's Palace, Schleissheim, which is now in the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and it’s plausible that our painting depicts the same. How he came to paint such an ostentatious building is a mystery as he’s not at all known for interiors. But it’s interesting to note that Prince Luitpold acquired one of his landscapes, so the two were acquainted.
As an American painter in Munich, he was something of a novelty, with German writer Michael Georg Conrad explaining that “he stands above the nervous passions of our world view. He has that calm, relaxed manner that doesn't look into the past, takes the present coolly and sees the best of the future.” Perhaps his position as an outsider was a factor in Prince Luitpold’s interest.
An inscription on the reverse may reveal the title of this work but it’s unclear. It could possibly refer to Lustheim Palace, which is on the Schleissheim estate, or Linderhof Palace.
Signed in the lower right and framed.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 28” x 25” / 71cm x 63cm
Year of creation: c. 1880
Provenance: Private collection, Germany.
Condition: Artwork presents well. Frame with some light wear.
Artist’s auction maximum: £12,034
Hermann Hartwich was an accomplished American-German painter of landscapes, figures and scenes. He trained at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich and exhibited at various eminent European venues, winning numerous awards. The Smithsonian American Art Museum holds examples of his work.
Learn more about Hermann Hartwich in our directory.
We care profoundly about our role as custodians and every piece in the collection has been assessed by our conservator. When required, we undertake professional restoration carefully using reversible techniques and adopt a light touch to retain the aged charm of each work. We also often restore frames rather than replace them as many are original and selected by the artists themselves.
