HANS THOMA | DIE FRÜHLINGSRAST

Julia Kniese, Bayreuth (by 1909)

Henry Thode, ed., Thoma. Des Meisters Gemälde, Stuttgart & Leipzig, 1909, p. 116, catalogued and illustrated

After a brief period in Basel, Thoma finished his training in Germany and in Munich was part of the circle of artists which included Wilhelm Leibl and Arnold Böcklin. This pastoral scene shows a group of four children who have been gathering wild flowers, resting in the shade as the young boy plays music on his pipe. Another very similar version of the composition, with two further figures in the background and dated to 1914, was offered Neumeister, Munich, 5 July 2000, lot 771.