Franz von Paula Mayr

Original canvas. Ultra-violet light reveals minor spots of retouching scattered through the sky (most tiny pinhole-sized), with just a few tiny spots below the horizon. There is scattered old craquelure, particularly in the sky, and in a stretcher mark parallel to the edges and vertically in the centre. Some areas of the varnish in the sky are slightly discoloured. This aside, the general appearance of this work is good. Held in a gold-painted wood and plaster frame.
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NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Painted in 1836, the present work is a rare panorama of Langenenslingen on the southern edge of the Swabian Alb near Riedlingen and Sigmaringen. The view is from the Andelfinger mountain looking Southwards, with the Swiss Alps visible on the horizon. 

Ending a brief career working as an engineer in the French corps of the German army, Paula Mayr moved to Munich where he found employment as a customs officer. He spent his evenings and weekends painting views of Munich and its environs, and is best known for his large, birds-eye perspective panoramas of that city.

The present work also depicts Langenenslingen seen from a high vantage point, but rather than being a purely topographical view, incorporates Romantic elements that reveal a clear affinity with the works of Caspar David Friedrich, such as the cross towards the centre of the composition, and the use of the Rückenfigur (see also note to lot 27). It is tempting to think that the seated figure to the left depicts Paula Mayr at work, executing a sketch in situ for the present work.