Maurice Rugendas (attributed). Descent From Valparaiso. Chile. Circa 1838.

Johann Moritz Rugendas (August, March 29, 1802 — Weilheim an der Teck, May 29, 1858) was a Bavarian painter, draftsman, and lithographer, descended from a family of artists. He drew from a young age and studied with his father Johann Lorenz Rugendas, then with Albrech Adam in Munich. He traveled to Brazil from March 1822 to August 1825, first as a draftsman for the Langsdorff expedition, then on his own. Returning to Europe, he published Malerische Reise in Brasilien - Picturesque Journey to Brazil, an album of 100 lithographic plates accompanied by text by Engelmann in Paris. In 1829, he traveled to Italy, where he perfected his painting. Supported by Alexander von Humboldt, he then prepared a trip to Latin America. He traveled from 1831 to 1847, first to Mexico, then mainly to Chile, with excursions to Peru and Argentina. During all these trips, he drew and painted landscapes, the notables of the recently independent countries, the people and their customs. Back in Europe, he gave his collections to the King of Bavaria in exchange for a pension and continued his career for ten years before his death. His work from Latin America is especially remembered. Watercolour and pencil heightened with white on thin cardboard, 18 x 14 cm.  Unsigned attributed to Maurice Rugendas. Preparatory watercolor and drawing for the painting "Descent of Valparaiso" from 1838, Probably Chilean State collection . From this medium-sized painting (33 x 41 cm) and our preparatory drawing, Rugendas painted, in the same years, other variants of the same subject, then, around 1841, large formats (70 x 92 cm). This work had been attributed by the Nevill Keating Gallery  ( The gallery specializes in Australian art ) in London to the circle of Conrad Martens (1801 - 1878). Although Martens and Rugendas drew the surroundings of Valparaiso at the same time, their styles are very different. Previously, this work had also been attributed, by Bonhams in London, to the circle of Ernest Charton (1815 - 1877). Indeed, Charton is the author of a painting entitled "View of Valparaiso" (ca. 1850), some elements of which are inspired by Rugendas's paintings. But once again, as in the case of Martens, the composition and drawing are different and Charton's painting is late.