This late 19th-century oil painting by German artist Karl Peter Burnitz (1824-1886) depicts a dense woodland view with pond.
At first glance, the dominant characteristic of this splendid little painting is its mastery of tone. Dark green and umber, enlivened with highlights that rest in pockets of exposed foliage. But look closer and there’s finesse, exquisite details rendered through careful observation.
The trees, which rise into a pyramidal structure, are deftly reflected in the dark shimmering water. The pond’s edge cleverly marked via a distinct change in value. While the sky, bulging with imposing clouds, is depicted in a range of subtle greys through to near-brilliant white.
Burnitz was unusual. Turning his hand to painting following a brief career as a lawyer. Unlike his German contemporaries, he undertook the mainstay of his training in Paris and, as such, championed a pioneering sense of naturalism. His studio was the great outdoors, working instinctively to capture the transient effects of light.
The painting was previously in the collection of H.R.H. Prince Joseph Clemens of Bavaria (1902-1990).
Held within a gilt frame from the period, which is possibly original.
Medium: Oil on canvas laid on wood
Overall size: 15” x 16½” / 38cm x 45cm
Year of creation: c. 1880
Condition: Artwork presents well. Frame with some light wear.
Provenance: H.R.H. Prince Joseph Clemens of Bavaria (1902-1990).
Artist’s auction maximum: £6,665
Karl Peter Burnitz was an accomplished German landscape painter working predominantly in oils and watercolours. He trained in Paris under the tutelage of Camille Roqueplan and Emile Labinet and took heed from the Barbizon School of painters, such as Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot, Théodore Rousseau and Charles Daubigny. His works are held in numerous public collections.
Learn more about Karl Peter Burnitz 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.
