Lesser Ury

Emil & Jenny Hirsch, Berlin & Tel Aviv (until 1948)
Private Collection, Tel Aviv
Private Collection, Tel Aviv (by descent from the above)
Acquired from the above by the present owner

Berlin, National Galerie, Lesser Ury, Gedenkausstellung, 1931, no. 97, illustrated in the catalogue

Joachim Seyppel, Lesser Ury, Der Maler der alten City, Leben - Kunst - Wirkung, Eine Monographie, Berlin, 1987, no. 127, illustrated p. 202

The canvas is not lined. There is an additional loose lining attached to the keyed wooden stretcher, ensuring an even and stable structural support. Examination under UV light reveals thin lines of retouching, covering thin lines of craquelure to the dark ground above the lower edge. These retouchings could easily be removed. There is one further spot of retouching to the lower centre of the trunk of the central tree. There are also several small areas of fluorescence along the right part of the lower edge which appear to be attributable to the degradation of the varnish layers. There are lines of craquelure throughout the composition and several small areas of slightly raised lines of craquelure to the sky. These appear to be stable. There are two small artist's pin holes to the upper corners. This work is in overall good condition.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Lesser Ury was a German Impressionist painter, based in Berlin where the city’s streets and cafes as well as the surrounding landscape provided him with endless motifs for his paintings and pastels. His works reveal the artist’s fascination with the ever changing quality of light and its many effects. Accordingly, Ury is well known for his depictions of figures in darkened interiors and reflections of street lights on rainy streets as well as his depictions of the beautiful Brandenburg countryside often set in spectacular lighting conditions.

Grunewaldsee, Berlin was painted in 1893 at a time when Ury sought respite from the business of the capital and instead focused on landscape painting. At the time the Grunewaldsee was a recurring motif.

The present work was formerly in the collection of Emil Hirsch, one of Lesser Ury's most important collectors. Hirsch is said to have had an excellent eye for choosing only the very best of Ury's work. Grunewaldsee, Berlin was amongst the group of works which Hirsch managed to take with him when he emigrated to Palestine from Berlin with his family in 1946.