catalog text
"AN ALPINE VILLAGE" | JOSEPH HEINRICH LUDWIG MARR (GERMAN, 1807-1871)
Oil on panel, signed lower left "H. Marr"
Item # 012PXI11A
A scene full of life and romance, a picture of toil among friends and neighbors, this exquisite painting of Alpine life by Joseph Heinrich Ludwig Marr captures the very essence of Romanticism. An idyllic glimpse at the past capturing a space shared by man and beast alike, the work sought to capture a nostalgia for a time of simplicity and community for city-dwelling patrons and clients.
Some women of the village gather around the well at the center of the town to clean and dry baskets of clothing while cattle drink from the basin. A farmer with his scythe braced on his shoulder fills a jug full of water while a young goatherd calls for his flock. A flock of ducks pad around the dirt road while other animals move about through the scene. The building architecture is dramatic and full of texture, the entire scene beautifully lit under clear skies before the towering stones of the Alpines.
It remains an incredibly rich and moving work preserved in nearly pristine condition.
Measurements: 27 7/8" H x 24" W [panel]; 33 5/8" H x 29 3/4" W x 3 5/8" D [frame]
Condition Report:
A fine slightly later frame with wear, chips to the gilding and minor cracks/etc. as expected. Surface of the painting is clean and vibrant, beautifully preserved. Under UV appears to be free of restoration/inpainting.