catalog text
HEINRICH HILLER (GERMAN, FL. 1866-1894) ANTIQUE SEASCAPE PAINTING
Late 19th Century, signed lower left "H. Hiller"
Item # 1403QGL22-Z
This is a fine antique painting by Heinrich Hiller, a highly active landscape and seascape painter. Hiller worked in Berlin, where he first exhibited in 1866, later showing his work in Dresden and Hanover. Much of the body of his work encompasses seascapes, though he has several very fine landscapes and some fine city scenes, the subjects often with a heaviness to them. The present example is no exception, the orange glow of morning peaking over the horizon of a decrepit harbor, sailors and fishermen readying their run down ships to make another day journey out to sea. The looming and almost twisting perspective of the buildings is certainly imagined, not a scale representation of the architecture, lending a certain sleepiness to the setting. The spire of the church tower pierces the clear skies of the horizon with the hint of bad weather settling in the clouds.
A nice representation of his works, this fine antique painting borders between realism and impressionism, some figures nearly a silhouette blending and becoming one with their vessel, while the buildings are stark and highly detailed. Signed clearly lower left and remaining in a very nice state of presentation, this will certainly charm any serious collector of Hiller's works, while the subject matter is deeply enjoyable for anyone that loves the Romantic paintings of the German and Dutch schools.
Measurements: [frame] 26" high x 23" wide; [canvas] 19 3/4" high x 16 3/4" wide
Condition Report:
Later frame with numerous dings and chips. Light craquelure to surface of painting. Inpainting in buildings and touch ups here and there visible to the eye as an oxidized pigment under powerful direct light (as can be seen in the images). [UNDER UV] Sky with several large areas of overpainting, the largest 4 1/2" x 1 1/2"; sky also lightly speckled with minor touch ups; painting cleaned in the last decade or so; numerous specks of touch up in buildings; two larger spots (mid-mid quadrant, mid-left quadrant) approximately the size of a quarter; touch up in water (mid-bottom) and light touch ups around all edges; touch up to bottom most line of first two letters of signature, the rest of the signature untouched. Please review all images in the slideshow for a full overview of condition.
