Wilhelm Kuhnert German, 1865-1926

Acquired by the grandfather of the present owner circa 1900; thence by descent

Original canvas. There are no retouchings visible under ultra-violet light. Overall this work is in very good condition with all the impastos intact. The appearance of this work could be further enhanced with a light surface clean. Held in a plaster gilt wood frame. The drawing accompanying this lot has discoloured slightly with age and there are some scattered small watermarks (visible in the catalogue illustration). Held under glass in a simple wood frame.
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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."

Kuhnert studied under the animal painter Paul Meyerheim in Berlin. His first trip to Africa in 1891-2 provided him with the opportunity to study the animals of the Serengeti and Masai for the first time in their natural habitat. Captivated by the beauty and excitement of the wild, and becoming an avid big game hunter, Kuhnert spent much time in the field, returning intermittently to Berlin to work up his sketches into finished paintings.

Kuhnert is today recognized as one of the greatest wildlife painters, his work the inspiration for successive generations of animal painters, such as David Shepherd. As Terry Wieland notes: 'no one painted African animals like Wilhelm Kuhnert. It is an opinion that is widely shared among Africa's professional hunters, men who have little tolerance for misrepresentations' (Wildlife Art News, July-August 1991, p. 46).

This lot includes a pencil study of three lions measuring 26 by 35.5cm., 10¼ by 14in. and signed Wilh. Kuhnert l.l.

The painting and the drawing will be included in the Kuhnert catalogue raisonné compiled by the late Hansjörg Werner as nos. 6434 and 6435 respectively.