Guards crossing a bridge

Details

Ausstellung:
Carl Spitzweg (1808-1885). Vor und hinter den Kulissen, Schlossmuseum Murnau, 2009, Ausst.-Kat. (bearb. von Brigitte Salmen), S. 108, Kat.-Nr. 76, mit farb. Abb.

Provenienz:
Bassenge, Berlin, Auktion, 7.6.1996, Los 5811;
Privatbesitz, Süddeutschland.

Description

In the 1860s, Spitzweg increasingly focussed on the mysteries of the night. He painted nocturnal alleyways in the reflection of the blue-green moonlight, where vigilantes patrol in an almost somnambulistic trot (cf. Wichmann no. 1572-1592). Spitzweg pursued the theme of the vigilantes, who mostly consisted of veteran soldiers, often participants in the Napoleonic wars, into his late period and prepared it with sketches such as this one. The grenadier and the halberdiers preceding and following him are on the approach to a bridge. Over there, they will continue their patrol through the sleeping city. – Slightly browned by light in the former mat opening. A small, backed tear in the lower left. The lower margin supplemented with laid paper in places. In good condition for its age.