This fine mid-19th-century oil painting attributed to German artist Ludwig Gustav Voltz (1825-1911) depicts a herd of wild horses gathering in the shade of a tree before a lake.
Voltz was an accomplished painter of landscapes and animals. Born into a creative family, his early tuition was undertaken by his father, Johann Michael Voltz, and older brother, Friedrich Voltz, with the latter a particular inspiration. Hailing from Augsburg, he spent most of his life in Munich where he exhibited regularly having attended the Academy.
His most successful works tend to depict several horses illuminated by radiant light - with emphasis placed on chiaroscuro. Unusually, his animals, although painted skillfully, are given less prominence than the overall effect of the view. We also see this compositional nuance in his brother’s work.
Numerous dignitaries provided patronage including the Prince Regent Luitpold of Bavaria and his son Leopold, for whom he undertook several horse portraits. His hunting scenes and still lifes with game were also popular with the aristocracy. Towards the end of his career, he travelled to the Alps to capture the grandeur of the foothills.
Here, in this piece from around 1865, we see several horses cooling off under a linden tree. The earth appears dusty and scorched. A glimpse of a lake is visible to the right. A weary foal turns towards the viewer. The painting is unsigned but strongly resembles several of Voltz’s works. A study from 1860 appears to use a similar sketch for two of the horses towards the centre. The canvas has been laid on wood and it’s possibly been cut down, hence a signature may have been lost.
Voltz is represented at the Bavarian State Painting Collection and the Buchheim Museum.
Held within a fine period frame.
Learn more about Ludwig Gustav Voltz in our directory.
Due to the weight of this piece, it can only be delivered within the UK (mainland).
Medium: Oil on canvas laid on wood
Overall size: 52” x 47” / 132cm x 119cm
Year of creation: c. 1865
Provenance: Private collection, Germany.
Condition: Assessed and approved by our conservator. Settled craquelure, as you would expect. Areas of restoration. The paint layer is stable. Frame restored. Canvas laid on heavy modern chipboard.
Artist’s auction maximum: £9,408 for ‘Group of Horses with a Shepherd and his Dog’, Oil on canvas, Koller, Zurich, 2010 (Lot 3286).
Our reference: BRV1464
