Franz De Paula Ferg (1689–1740) — Oil On Copper Depicting Animated Ruins
Artist: Franz De Paula Ferg
This superb and luminous oil on copper is a characteristic work by Franz de Paula Ferg, the renowned Austrian master of genre scenes and Italianate landscapes. The work depicts a vibrant everyday scene unfolding at the foot of an imposing, Roman-inspired ruined building, bathed in the soft golden light of the setting sun.
At the center of the composition, a dense group of figures comes to life: horsemen on their mounts, peasants leading donkeys, and travelers taking a break. On the left, a large, winding tree elegantly frames the scene, opening the view to a distant, rolling landscape beneath a shifting sky, blending shades of azure and golden clouds.
True to the great tradition of the Northern “Italianists,” Ferg demonstrates here the full virtuosity of his miniaturist brushwork. The perfectly preserved copper support lends the paint layer exceptional brilliance, remarkable chromatic depth, and great finesse in the details of the figures and animals, as well as in the rendering of the stone’s textures.
Biographical note:
Franz de Paula Ferg (1689–1740) was first trained in Vienna by his father, Adam Pankraz Ferg, and later by Joseph Orient and Hans Graf, before traveling to Germany and establishing himself with immense success in London beginning in 1724. His works, prized by European aristocrats on the Grand Tour, magnificently combine the technical precision of the Flemish masters with the pastoral grace of the 18th-century French school. His small-format copperplate paintings are now housed in the most prestigious international museums (Vienna, London, Dresden, Hamburg).
Excellent condition.
At the center of the composition, a dense group of figures comes to life: horsemen on their mounts, peasants leading donkeys, and travelers taking a break. On the left, a large, winding tree elegantly frames the scene, opening the view to a distant, rolling landscape beneath a shifting sky, blending shades of azure and golden clouds.
True to the great tradition of the Northern “Italianists,” Ferg demonstrates here the full virtuosity of his miniaturist brushwork. The perfectly preserved copper support lends the paint layer exceptional brilliance, remarkable chromatic depth, and great finesse in the details of the figures and animals, as well as in the rendering of the stone’s textures.
Biographical note:
Franz de Paula Ferg (1689–1740) was first trained in Vienna by his father, Adam Pankraz Ferg, and later by Joseph Orient and Hans Graf, before traveling to Germany and establishing himself with immense success in London beginning in 1724. His works, prized by European aristocrats on the Grand Tour, magnificently combine the technical precision of the Flemish masters with the pastoral grace of the 18th-century French school. His small-format copperplate paintings are now housed in the most prestigious international museums (Vienna, London, Dresden, Hamburg).
Excellent condition.
13 000 €
Period: 18th century
Style: Other Style
Condition: Excellent condition
Material: Oil painting on copper
Width: 39
Height: 28,7
Reference (ID): 1811776
Availability: In stock
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