L13102

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Lot 57
  • 57

Carl Moll

Estimate
60,000 - 80,000 GBP
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Description

  • Carl Moll
  • Baumallee in Bruntál (Tree Lined Road in Bruntál)
  • signed with initials lower right
  • oil on canvas
  • 60.5 by 60.5cm., 23¾ by 23¾in.

Provenance

In the possession of the family of the present owner by the early 1930s; thence by descent

Condition

The canvas has not been lined. Ultraviolet light reveals no signs of retouching. This painting is in excellent original condition, with beautifully preserved impasto, and its appearance could be further improved with a light surface clean to address the varnish which has yellowed somewhat over time. Held in a simple pale gilt frame.
"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."

Catalogue Note

Bruntál, formerly known as Freudenthal, is a town located in Czech Silesia. Until 1918, Freudenthal was part of Austria-Hungary. Bruntál belongs to the Czech Massif and is situated between the Hrubý Jeseník mountains and the rolling hills of the Nízký Jeseník mountains. The town is known for its Baroque castle and historical buildings.

Carl Moll executed a number of views of Freudenthal during a visit in 1916, and it is likely that the present work was executed at that time. It is comparable to another view of an avenue in the park of Schloss Freudenthal (fig. 1), now lost. Another work from 1916 measuring 60.5 by 60.5cm depicts Freudenthal castle viewed from the meadows (see Carl Moll. Seine Freunde. Sein Leben. Sein Werk., 1985, p. 66).

Executed during the First World War, Moll’s landscapes from this period, whether they depict Freudenthal, Castle Förev in Pressburg or views from the Prater and the Danube meadows, can be read as expressing a deep-rooted yearning for harmony and positivity at a time that was marked by political and social conflict and turmoil, and the erosion of bourgeois culture and values. Nature is portrayed as peaceful, regenerative and timeless, a sunny antidote to the torrent of violence that was sweeping Europe at the time.