German school (XIX) - Faust e Mefistofele
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Faust e Mefistofele, an oil on canvas painting from the mid-19th century in Germany, dated 1850, 84 by 67 cm, sold with frame.
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Description
"Faust and Mephistopheles," oil on canvas, 84*67cm with frame, 59*51cm canvas only, German school, datable to the mid-19th century.
The painting captures one of the most famous moments from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's 'Faust.' Inside a study filled with books and manuscripts, symbols of a life dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge, Dr. Faust is depicted as an old sage wrapped in a blue robe, shown in a pose of deep torment, with his head resting on his hand and his gaze lost in thought, reflecting the anguish of someone who has understood the vanity and impossibility of seeking the supreme knowledge. Behind him emerges the figure of Mephistopheles, dressed in a fiery red outfit that immediately reveals his demonic nature; his gaze, full of clever and subtle irony, observes the scholar with the awareness of someone ready to weave the plot of the fatal pact—the selling of the soul—creating a stark contrast between Faust's moral exhaustion and the sinister vitality of the tempter.
From a compositional point of view, the painting relies on a solid structure, where light, filtering through a window on the left side, illuminates the worktable and Faust's face with a grazing light, leaving the rest of the environment in a suggestive shadow that enhances the sense of mystery and isolation. The brushwork is vibrant and rich in material, effectively capturing the different textures of fabrics and the density of scattered papers, while the chromatic play hinges on a stark contrast: the cool, earthy tones enveloping the environment and the scholar are abruptly interrupted by the sudden burst of red from Mefistophele's cloak, which serves as the true visual and psychological focal point of the entire scene.
This work fully fits within the cultural climate of mid-19th-century Romanticism, a period when the myth of Faust became the emblem of the human condition, torn between the aspiration for the infinite and the awareness of one's limits. The painting reflects the era's taste for literary and historical subject matter, characterized by strong introspection and a preference for chiaroscuro atmospheres inspired by Flemish or seventeenth-century art. In this context, the artist succeeds in translating the philosophical drama into an intimate and powerful image. A cultured painting executed with skill, it offers a pleasing aesthetic impact.
Condition Report
The overall condition is good. The painting shows vivid and well-defined brushwork and color. The canvas reveals signs of old restorations; before being auctioned, it underwent professional cleaning and consolidation. The frame is to be understood as a gift.
Tracked and insured shipment with adequate packaging.
Description
"Faust and Mephistopheles," oil on canvas, 84*67cm with frame, 59*51cm canvas only, German school, datable to the mid-19th century.
The painting captures one of the most famous moments from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's 'Faust.' Inside a study filled with books and manuscripts, symbols of a life dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge, Dr. Faust is depicted as an old sage wrapped in a blue robe, shown in a pose of deep torment, with his head resting on his hand and his gaze lost in thought, reflecting the anguish of someone who has understood the vanity and impossibility of seeking the supreme knowledge. Behind him emerges the figure of Mephistopheles, dressed in a fiery red outfit that immediately reveals his demonic nature; his gaze, full of clever and subtle irony, observes the scholar with the awareness of someone ready to weave the plot of the fatal pact—the selling of the soul—creating a stark contrast between Faust's moral exhaustion and the sinister vitality of the tempter.
From a compositional point of view, the painting relies on a solid structure, where light, filtering through a window on the left side, illuminates the worktable and Faust's face with a grazing light, leaving the rest of the environment in a suggestive shadow that enhances the sense of mystery and isolation. The brushwork is vibrant and rich in material, effectively capturing the different textures of fabrics and the density of scattered papers, while the chromatic play hinges on a stark contrast: the cool, earthy tones enveloping the environment and the scholar are abruptly interrupted by the sudden burst of red from Mefistophele's cloak, which serves as the true visual and psychological focal point of the entire scene.
This work fully fits within the cultural climate of mid-19th-century Romanticism, a period when the myth of Faust became the emblem of the human condition, torn between the aspiration for the infinite and the awareness of one's limits. The painting reflects the era's taste for literary and historical subject matter, characterized by strong introspection and a preference for chiaroscuro atmospheres inspired by Flemish or seventeenth-century art. In this context, the artist succeeds in translating the philosophical drama into an intimate and powerful image. A cultured painting executed with skill, it offers a pleasing aesthetic impact.
Condition Report
The overall condition is good. The painting shows vivid and well-defined brushwork and color. The canvas reveals signs of old restorations; before being auctioned, it underwent professional cleaning and consolidation. The frame is to be understood as a gift.
Tracked and insured shipment with adequate packaging.
Details
Artist
German school (XIX)
Sold with frame
Yes
Title of artwork
Faust e Mefistofele
Technique
Oil painting
Signature
Not signed
Country of Origin
Germany
Year
1850
Condition
Good condition
Height
84 cm
Width
67 cm
Style
Classical
Period
19th century
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