Egon Schiele

Gustav Herrmann, Vienna (acquired from the artist, May 1, 1916)
Dr Heinrich Rieger, Vienna (by 1930)
Luigi Kasimir, Vienna (acquired from the above by forced sale, 1938) Private Collection, Germany (by descent from above; sale: Sotheby's London, March 26, 1986, lot 162)
Private Collection, Tokyo (acquired at the above sale)

 

Vienna, Neue Galerie, Unbekanntes von Egon Schiele, 1930
Vienna, Wiener Künstlerhaus, Herbstausstellung, Sammlung des Dr Henrich Rieger, 1935, no 3205

Otto Nierenstein, Egon Schiele, Persönlichkeit und Werk, 1930, no. 155a
Otto Kallir, Egon Schiele, Oeuvre-Katalog der Gemälde, Vienna, 1966, no. 214, illustrated p. 422
Rudolph Leopold, Egon Schiele Paintings, Watercolours, Drawings, London, 1973, no. 272, p. 593
Gianfranco Malafarina, L'Opera di Schiele, Munich, 1982, no. 299, illustrated n.p.
Christian M. Nebehay, Egon Schiele: Von der Skizze zum Bild, Vienna & Munich, 1989, illustrated fig. 130
Jane Kallir, Egon Schiele: The Complete Works, London, 1998, no. 302, illustrated p. 334

Panel is slightly bowed toward centre but appears sound. Minor abrasions to extreme left and right edges. Under UV light: horizontal lines of inpainting across upper register to address hairline cracks in panel, which mostly follow the grain of the wood. A few small dots of inpainting at bottom edge to address prior frame abrasion, otherwise fine. Work is in 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."

This work is sold pursuant to a settlement agreement between the Dr Heinrich Rieger heirs and the current owner

In 1915 Schiele was drafted into the Austrian army as a combat soldier but in May of 1916, due to his slight physical frame and for reasons of health, he was assigned to office work in a camp for Russian prisoners-of-war in the small town of Mühling near Wieselburg in Lower Austria. Here his superior, Lieutenant Gustav Herrmann, encouraged him to paint and had a barracks designated as Schiele's studio. The present work was commissioned by Hermann, an avid hunter, and the imagery seems to relate closely to an engraving by Dürer of the same subject (see Fig. 1).