Oil on canvas, relined
Düsseldorf, 1870
Carl Maria Seyppel (1847-1913) – German genre painter, writer and caricaturist
Signed, inscribed and dated (barely legible) lower right ‘C. M. Seyppel Ddf 1870”
Dimensions: 68 x 50.5 cm
Good condition
Provenance: Private collection, Germany
A beautiful genre painting by the renowned Dusseldorf artist, which adorns with its high quality frame each art collection; Carl Maria Seyppel’s interior scenes fetch up to €8.000 at international auctions

The present genre painting is a typical composition by the German artist Carl Maria Seyppel and dates to 1870. It reveals an elderly gentleman dressed with a velvety shimmering housecoat with fur collar and fur-lined sleeves. His head is covered by a kippah, identifying him as a follower of the Jewish religion. His attention is attracted by the painting he holds in his hands like a true lover and connoisseur of art. As such, he may be rated, when regarding the many paintings, books and works of art visible in the dim light of the room. The composition is rich in detail and demonstrates Seyppel’s great artistic skills, when playing with special lighting effects.

The painting is barely legibly signed, inscribed and dated lower right ‘C. M. Seyppel Ddf 1870’. The canvas is relined and appears slightly darkened. Inspection under UV light reveals later added details to the curtain on the left and the window on the right. Besides, there are areas of retouching especially to the edges. The golden frame is in good condition with only minor traces of age and use. The framed work measures 88.5 x 71.5 cm and the size of the stretcher is 68 x 50.5 cm.

Carl Maria Seyppel (1847-1913)

Carl Maria Seyppel was an important German artist of the 19th century, who specialized in illustrated picture stories, as probably best known from the famous German humorist, poet and illustrator Wilhelm Busch (1832-1908). Born in Dusseldorf, Seyppel attended the renowned Academy of Arts and became a member of the artist’s association ‘Malkasten’, which he headed as president since 1898. In addition to his literary activity, Seyppel was well-known as a painter of humorous genre scenes. His son, Hans Seyppel (1886-1945), also became a successful painter in Düsseldorf. (cbo)

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