Oil on canvas, relined
Germany, around 1760
Johann Georg Trautmann (1713-1769) - German painter and printmaker
At the back on the frame inscribed ‘Johann Georg Trautmann’
Characteristic genre scene with rat poison seller
Similar paintings by Johann Georg Trautmann fetch up to 44,000 euros at international auctions
Decorative frame
Overall dimensions, with frame: 52 x 44.5 cm

This oil painting depicting a rat poison seller was created by the German painter and printmaker Johann Georg Trautmann ( 1713-1769). It shows a typical genre scene of the artist, featuring the figure of a rat poison seller among a group of peasants. The rat poison seller is characterized by the brick of rat poison he is holding up in his left hand and a rat trap, his little assistant is carrying and at which already dangle dead animals. The high quality painting testifies to a clear influence of the Dutch school. In particular, the figure of the rat poison seller makes inevitably think of paintings by Rembrandt.



The frame is inscribed ‘Johann Georg Trautmann‘ on the back. The painting shows some signs of age and wear. The canvas has been relined; the color surface is varnished and shows some craquelée. Under UV light are visible touch-ups on the lower left. There is some minor color loss to the edges. The decorative wood frame is in good condition, displaying minor wear. The overall dimensions with frame are 52 x 44.5 cm. The stretcher frame measures 38.5 x 30.5 cm.



Johann Georg Trautmann (1713-1769)

A native of Zweibrücken, the painter and printmaker Johann Georg Trautmann completed his apprenticeship with the ducal court painter Ferdinand Bellon. By 1740, Trautmann went to Frankfurt and came first in the workshop of the facade painter Hugo Schlegel, later in that of tapestry painter Gabriel Kiesewetter. It is unknown when exactly Trautmann opened his own workshop. His earliest known painting dates to 1751.

Trautmann's paintings are influenced by the Dutch and Flemish art, but also by German paintings of the 17th century. He created religious history paintings according to the Old and New Testaments, character studies and heads in the manner of the Dutch ‘tronies’, some portraits, and a variety of genre scenes. In his nocturnal gypsy and robber scenes, he elaborated impressive lighting effects. (cko)

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