Marc, Franz

describing and illustrating his very large new painting of three horses grazing in a landscape, which is wholly coloured except one corner he has to change, explaining that the colours are hard to describe but that the landscape uses pure cadmium and cobalt blue, deep green and and carmine red, the horses in shades of yellow, brown and violet, emphasizing that the colours are controlled within a strong triangular composition, also telling her of a forthcoming meeting of the Neue Künstlervereinigung München (N.K.V.M) with Erbslöh, Werefkin, Kanoldt and others (“...Wir sind blödsinnig neugierig, was sie sagen…”)

...Ich hab noch ein sehr grosses Bild mit 3 Pferden in der Landschaft, ganz farbig von einer Ecke zur anderen, angefangen, die Pferde im Dreie[c]k aufgestellt. Die Farben sind schwer zu beschreiben. Im Terrain reiner Zinnober neben reinem Cadmium u. Cobaltblau, tiefem Grün u Carminrot, die Pferde gelbbraun bis violette. Sehr stark modellirtes Terrain, ganze Partien...in reinstem Blau! Kannst du dir das denken? Die Formen alle ... stark u. klar, damit sie die Farben aushalten…



Marc discusses the dispensation needed to allow him to marry Marie, praising the petition that has been prepared by Fromm, inferring that Schnür’s deposition must have been very strange and even comical, and that he feels confident of success



4 pages, 8vo (c.22.5 x 14cm), lined paper, annotated by the recipient in pink crayon, Sindelsdorf, 2 February 1911, slight wear at folds (one small hole)

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
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."

Weidende Pferde IV (Die roten Pferde) [Grazing Horses (The Red Horses)], now in a private collection, is one of a series of three monumental paintings in primary colours made by Marc in 1911, also including Yellow Cow and the Large Blue Horses.  Although Marc’s ink sketch clearly identifies the painting here, his description of the colours is different from the final version.  However he makes clear his principle of containing the strong colours within a strong formal scheme.  Marc had married Marie Schnür in 1908 in a marriage of convenience. However when she divorced him, she laid a charge of adultery against him, which meant that he had to petition for a dispensation to allow him to marry Marie Franck, which he did in London in 1911.