August Löhr (1843-1919)

Galerias La Granja, Mexico City
Acquired from the above by the previous owner circa 1960
Sale: Bruhns Auction Gallery, Inc., Denver, Antiques Estates Auction, December 9, 2012, illustrated in color

This large work is unlined. There are no reinforcements to the reverse and it seems that the picture has never been removed from its original stretcher. Very slight cracking has developed in the sky, on the left side, but this is not indicative of any instability to the paint layer. There are a few isolated spots of retouching in the upper right in the sky, which don’t seem to correspond to any paint loss, and may be cosmetic retouches. In the lower left sky there are a handful of small spots which are visible to the naked eye and under ultraviolet light. These seem to be driven by small specks on the surface, which can be removed without retouching. In the landscape and foreground, although areas of original color show darkly under ultraviolet light, there do not appear to be any signs of retouching. The work should be hung in its current condition. (This condition report has been provided courtesy of Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc.)
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

August Löhr was one of the many foreign painters whom became enthralled with Mexico and its landscape. Born in Hallein, near Salzburg in 1842, Löhr became known as a painter of panoramas – those large curved paintings that pre-dated the experience of cinema. He came to the United States in 1884 to work in New Orleans and  Milwaukee. Looking for new vistas, he then went on to San Francisco and from there to Mexico in 1890. Inspired by the majestic landscape, he became known for his watercolors (see Castle of Chapultepec lot 103) and more rarely, produced paintings of the mountains surrounding the valley of Mexico. The present oil is one of his largest known paintings of this composition.