WERNER; ANTON ALEXANDER VON
1843 Frankfurt/Oder - 1915 Berlin

Frieze with five musicians in historical costumes. Three individual works; oil on canvas (two measuring 44 x 32cm; one 44 x 16;5cm). One work monogrammed and dated lower right: AvW / 1872. Framed together.

Verso:
Customs stamps on all three canvases.

Anton von Werner established himself early on as historical painter in Karlsruhe; gaining considerable fame among the empire's most important circles since 1870. Being close to highest-ranking nobility and after settling in Berlin he increasingly became part of the gentry. Owing to the work he did on his private residence; he was commissioned to create programmatic mural cycles in some of the splendorous city mansions: Palais Pringsheim for instance; built 1872-74 on Wilhelmstra遝; damaged during World War II; and demolished in the 1950s. As its large-scale murals (partly made in mosaic technique on gold ground) were considered exemplary of Historicism; the 'colourful house' was soon thought of as an important sight. Today only the murals' designs; inspired by Venetian Renaissance models; are preserved.

This probably is the context in which to consider these five musicians dated 1872.
Art trade; Van Ham.