Franz de Paula Ferg

With Ryman & Co., Oxford.

Etchings after all four of these compositions were made by Thomas Major in 1754.¹ Another set of Four Seasons – all oil on copper, signed by Ferg and similar in size although different in design – was sold at Christie's, London, 17 December 1981, lot 135.

Ferg rarely painted winter landscapes. A version of this Winter, however, was sold at Christie's, London, 7 December 2007, lot 156 – also on copper, but of slightly larger dimensions (25.4 x 36.3 cm.) and in reverse. It was probably executed after 1724, when the artist had settled in London. Another winter landscape by Ferg, of similar date but completely different in composition, was sold at Sotheby's, London, 6 July 2006, lot 266 (for £105,600). Like each of the present coppers, that painting is signed 'FV', the 'V' thought to stand for the English name of Ferg's birthplace, Vienna.

¹ Spring: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1917-1208-2370; Summer: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1917-1208-2371; Autumn: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1917-1208-2372; Winter: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1917-1208-2373