Ludwig Braun

Collection of the Rochechouart de Mortemart Family since the 19^th Century;

Thence by descent. 

Ludwig Braun was a German history and battle painter, who was born in 1836 in Schwäbisch Hall and died in 1916 in Munich. After studying at the Technical University in Munich and the arts school in Stuttgart, he illustrated the War of the Duchies in 1864 and then accompanied the German army during the war of 1870–71. He was particularly well known for his panoramas of battle scenes, a format that was very popular in the nineteenth century.

In this painting, the troops of Baron Hunolstein and his cousin Dietrich von Daun face each other in a battle of 1360, probably in the context of the Hundred Years War (1337-1453). This year was also marked by the signing of the Treaty of Brétigny by John II of France and Edward III of England, which brought about a truce of nearly nine years. The arms of the Hudolstein family are visible in the upper right of the painting: red and white, they are also those of the husband of Marie-Thérèse de Martainville, seen on the marital coats of arms in the right corner of their portrait (see lot 137). The castle that dominates the background could be Burg Eltz, a highly strategic military stronghold belonging to the Hunolstein baronetcy.