ALFRED KUBIN | St. Martinus der heilige Ritter beobachtet mit dem Zeichner das Leben und Treiben am Graben in Wien (St Martin the Holy Knight and the Artist Observe Life and the Daily Grind at the Graben in Vienna)

Maximilian (Max) & Hertha Morgenstern, Vienna (acquired from the artist)
Thence by descent to the present owners

Executed on cream laid paper, not laid down, and hinged to the mount in two places along the upper edge. The sheet is time-stained, and shows signs that the over-mount previously covered more of the sheet than is currently covered. The upper and right edges are deckled. There are a few scattered spots of foxing in places and a small nick to the lower part of the right edge. There are some old tape remnants to the verso to all four corners, which should ideally be removed. This work is in overall good condition.
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Alluding to Morgenstern’s patronage, Kubin would often depict Max Morgenstern in the guise of St Martin, evoking the tale of the Roman soldier who shared his cloak with a beggar. On the occasion of Max and Hertha’s engagement, Kubin sent a hand-drawn card, portraying Max Morgenstern as St Martin, against the backdrop of Cupid’s arrow piercing a red heart. Carrying a folder entitled Kubin Sammlung (Kubin Collection) and a bunch of flowers, he is depicted approaching the boudoir of his beloved Hertha. A similar narrative is reflected in the present lot as the ink drawing depicts Kubin as a street harp player while Max and Hertha Morgenstern walk by. The works suggests Max Morgenstern’s proud and supportive patronage of the artist as he is shown giving the harp player money. Hertha, on the other hand, looks away with an uninterested expression, perhaps suggesting the known fact that Hertha did not find Kubin’s works as appealing as her husband and did not attempt to hide her views.



The authenticity of this work has been confirmed by Dr. Peter Assmann.