Prof. Walter Geffcken - a portrait of Maximilian Ritter von Pohl as bearer of the Military Order of Max Joseph, dated 1916Oil on wood, the artist's signature "W. Geffcken 1916" at the top left. Three-quarter portrait, seated, Max von Pohl in the dark blue uniform of a Bavarian artillery lieutenant, the Knight's Cross of the Military Order of Max Joseph on his right chest, holding a cigarette in his right hand and the handle of his sword in his left. Gilt stucco frame decorated with a leaf pattern (the reverse reinforced with a new chipboard). Partially slightly damaged, traces of age. Frame dimensions 114 x 89 x 6.5 cm. In good condition.Maximilian Pohl (1893 - 1951) joined the 7th Field Artillery Regiment "Prinzregent Luitpold" as a gunner on 1st October 1912. He was promoted to ensign on 20th March 1913 and to lieutenant at the onset of the First World War. His achievements were acknowledged by the Bavarian king on 28th August 1914, who awarded him the Knight's Cross of the Military Order of Max Joseph, thereby granting him the privilege to call himself "Ritter von Pohl". After the war Pohl joined the "Freikorps Epp" on 13th April 1919, which merged into the Reichswehr. During the Second World War he was a Luftwaffe general and the commanding Luftwaffe general for Central Italy.Prof. Walter Geffcken (1872 - 1950) was a noted member of the Munich art scene, contributing to the magazine "Jugend" (name giver of the "Jugendstil" or German Art Nouveau movement) and regularly displaying his works in the Glaspalast.Provenance: Directly from the family's collection.Condition: II