Johann Nepomuk Schödlberger

Commissioned from the artist in the early nineteenth century;
Thence by direct decent in a European princely collection;
By whom anonymously sold (Property from a Princely Collection), London, Sotheby's, September 24, 2013, lot 191;
Acquired from the above by the present owner.

This pair of paintings are lined. They present strong and clear images beneath a clear varnish. In the painting with the castle on the right, there is a 1 by 1 inch repair in the trees above the group of figures as well as a thin horizontal line of repair in the lower left corner. Inspection under UV reveals some scattered thin lines of retouching scattered here and there in the landscape and in the figures of both paintings, as well as thin lines to address some of the more pronounced areas of craquelure in both. In the painting with the castle at left, UV light also reveals a small repair in the hillside at center and a small spot of retouching in the lower right. There are some more concentrated small lines of retouching in the path at center and in the seated figure at right. In the example with the castle at right, in addition to aforementioned retouchings, there are also a few spots in the center of the upper sky, a spot of repair in the stone near lower center and some spots in the tree along the left edge. There is also an area in the lower left corner that fluoresces unevenly. The pair of works are offered in decoratively carved giltwood frames.
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.

Johann Nepomuk Schödlberger was the leading romantic landscape painter in Vienna during his lifetime. Schödlberger traveled to Italy in 1817 and was heavily influenced by the neoclassical masters Claude Lorrain and Nicolas Poussin. His success was largely due to his important patrons including Emperor Franz I of Austria, King Ludwig I of Bavaria, and the Grand Duke of Weimar.

The present pair was commissioned by a princely family at the height of Schödlberger’s career. His landscapes dominated the exhibitions at the Vienna Academy of Arts where he not only flourished as an artist but also became a successful teacher. One of Schödlberger’s most famous students was Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller.