Fernand Hertenberger

Sale: Christie's, New York, June 13, 2008, lot 137, illustrated

Lined, scattered isolated areas of paint separation, particularly above central figure's head; under UV: one inch by four inch area of inpainting surrounded by dots of inpainting and inch diameter circle of inpainting lower center right edge, two inch long horizontal lines of inpainting in flowers along lower edge at right, inch long horizontal line of inpainting above woman's feet, inch long line of inpainting at her skins, dots of inpainting at her knees, spots of inpainting in woman's cheek, spots of inpainting in grey rock underneath doe at left, some other scattered pindots of inpainting.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Hertenberger's talents as an artist and book illustrator combine in this evocative, large-scale composition of the Goddess Diana.  In the present work, Hertenberger adapts the traditional iconography of the goddess to new dramatic effect. Diana, the virgin huntress, is here shown with an empty quiver (the arrows spent), her arm resting gently on a stag with tall, ridged, spear-like horns, glowing green eyes and a golden amulet around his neck; his doe, meanwhile, slips from the birch grove behind.  Having assisted her mother deliver her infant brother Apollo, Diana is generally associated with birth, which Hertenberger conveys innovatively: the budding ring of crocuses in the foreground, the basket of newly hatched chicks presented to her by a pair of faun and the new moon crescent ornament in her hair.  In its impressive scale, highly stylized landscape, attenuated figures, and abstract, decorative shapes, Hertenberger's work suggests the influence of Symbolist painters like Franz von Stuck and Gustav Klimt, art nouveau and art deco interior decoration.  Just as indelible here, however, is his own, distinct illustrative technique, as demonstrated in his 1949 set of fantastic illustrations for an edition of Aeschylus' Eumenides.