Giuseppe (Joseph) Molteni (1800-1867) - The Alchemist
10
days
13
hours
06
minutes
53
seconds
Current bid
€ 35
Reserve price not met
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Selected by Leo Setz
Over 30 years’ experience as art dealer, appraiser and restorer.
Estimate € 4,000 - € 5,000
 | €35 | |
|---|---|---|
 | €30 | |
| €1 |
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The Alchemist is a 19th‑century Italian oil on wood panel portrait by Giuseppe Molteni (1800–1867), dated 1837, signed Ex tabula. J. Molteni, sold with a period gold‑plated frame; framed size 48 x 51 cm (unframed 31 x 36 cm).
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
This genre scene depicts an alchemist experimenting under lamp light. It is signed by the author: " Ex tabula. J.Molteni". Ex tabula in Latin means on (at) board, table". The painting was executed in 1837 (due to the antique dating on the back of the painting) by important Italian portrait and genre painter Giuseppe (Joseph) Molteni (1800 Milan - 1867 Milan).
Forced to abandon his studies at the Brera Academy for financial reasons, Molteni took up the restoration of ancient paintings as a pupil of Giuseppe Guizzardi in Bologna. On his return to Milan, he soon became one of the most sought-after restorers of the day, a consultant to the Louvre and the British Museum as well as the leading collectors and connoisseurs in Milan and Europe as a whole. He also devoted his energies to painting.
In 1828 that he inaugurated a genre of portraiture characterized by the meticulous depiction of sumptuous costumes and settings, which proved an extraordinary success and brought him into direct competition with Francesco Hayez. The period spent at the court in Vienna in 1837 to paint the portrait of Emperor Ferdinand I led to an appreciation of Biedermeier painting and friendship with the painter Friedrich von Amerling, and the style of Johann Friedrich Overbeck. A switch to genre painting came in 1837 with scenes of contemporary everyday life that proved an immediate success with the public and critics. Exactly this year in Vienna he painted "our" painting. Because it was common that at this time, when Milan was still part of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, the artists called themselves to German first names. Giuseppe in Italian means Joseph in German. It is also remarkable that Molteni worked for the Vienna Imperial Court, all of which clarifies show why Molteni signed this painting with J. (Joseph) Molteni. References to his first name Joseph can also be found in two old German magazines "Morgenblatt für gebildete Leser" (Stuttgart, 1831, page 200) and "Kunstblatt" by J.Schor (Stuttgart, 1828, page 403), which reported about art exhibitions in Milan (1830) and Brussels (1827). Here are translations of quitations from both magazines: from first one: "... Portraits .. Hayez ... I immediately go to the fertile Molteni. Twenty one portraits of JOSEPH MOLTENI in a single exhibition! This is honorable for the painter and for the lovers ...". And in the second one: " ...The public has honored the portraits painted by Hern JOSEPH MOLTENI and I have also been tied up several times before them...". Molteni´s regular participation in the Brera exhibitions slackened in the 1850s and ceased when he was appointed curator of the Academy’s gallery in 1854.
Literature: Artist lexicons by Thieme/Becker, Benezit, Comanducci; "Giuseppe Molteni: 1800-1867, e il ritratto nella Milano romantica : pittura, collezionismo, restauro, tutela" (Italian Edition), 2000; Elena Lissoni, Giuseppe Molteni, online catalogue Artgate by Fondazione Cariplo, 2010; "La Pittura lombarda nel secolo XIX., Tipografia Capriolo e Massimino, 1900, page 41"; German Magazine Morgenblatt für gebildete Leser", Stuttgart, 1831, page 200); German magazine "Kunstblatt" by J.Schor, Stuttgart, 1828, page 403.
Provenance: Spanish private collection.
Inscription: titled and signed in Latin : Ex Tabula. J. Molteni", on the back of the painting different inscriptions, difficult to read, among them dating 1837 and Alquimista ( in Spanish, in English: Alchemist).
Technique: oil on wood panel, original period gold-plated frame.
Measurements: unframed w 12 1/4" x h 14 1/8" (31 x 36 cm); framed w 18 7/8" x h 20 7/8" (48 x 51 cm).
Condition: very good.
Seller's Story
Fine Art Gallery "ALTE KUNST", the member of CINOA (International Confederation of Art and Antique Dealers Associations), associated member of Sotheby's.
Alte Kunst specializes in buying and selling East and West European Art from the 17th to the middle of 20th centuries by international and local known artists.
We have long years of experience selling artworks to major public museums and international private collectors.
With a large private client base and bright specialization we offer a warm and correct environment for you to buy and sell fine art in our gallery in the heart of old Vienna.
GUARANTEE:
As with all the art that we sell, unless explicitly stated otherwise, the works/objects are guaranteed to be as described. At the request of the buyer to purchase will be attached the certificate of authenticy.
Please note: most of the works that we offer, are old and NOT REPLICS, some of them have been restored or may have defects that come with age.
In the descriptions we give our BEST opinion to the condition of the work.
Please have in mind, that the frames of paintings will be shipped with the paintings together, but are not the object of sale, therefore the condition of the frames can not be 100% guaranteed.
This genre scene depicts an alchemist experimenting under lamp light. It is signed by the author: " Ex tabula. J.Molteni". Ex tabula in Latin means on (at) board, table". The painting was executed in 1837 (due to the antique dating on the back of the painting) by important Italian portrait and genre painter Giuseppe (Joseph) Molteni (1800 Milan - 1867 Milan).
Forced to abandon his studies at the Brera Academy for financial reasons, Molteni took up the restoration of ancient paintings as a pupil of Giuseppe Guizzardi in Bologna. On his return to Milan, he soon became one of the most sought-after restorers of the day, a consultant to the Louvre and the British Museum as well as the leading collectors and connoisseurs in Milan and Europe as a whole. He also devoted his energies to painting.
In 1828 that he inaugurated a genre of portraiture characterized by the meticulous depiction of sumptuous costumes and settings, which proved an extraordinary success and brought him into direct competition with Francesco Hayez. The period spent at the court in Vienna in 1837 to paint the portrait of Emperor Ferdinand I led to an appreciation of Biedermeier painting and friendship with the painter Friedrich von Amerling, and the style of Johann Friedrich Overbeck. A switch to genre painting came in 1837 with scenes of contemporary everyday life that proved an immediate success with the public and critics. Exactly this year in Vienna he painted "our" painting. Because it was common that at this time, when Milan was still part of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, the artists called themselves to German first names. Giuseppe in Italian means Joseph in German. It is also remarkable that Molteni worked for the Vienna Imperial Court, all of which clarifies show why Molteni signed this painting with J. (Joseph) Molteni. References to his first name Joseph can also be found in two old German magazines "Morgenblatt für gebildete Leser" (Stuttgart, 1831, page 200) and "Kunstblatt" by J.Schor (Stuttgart, 1828, page 403), which reported about art exhibitions in Milan (1830) and Brussels (1827). Here are translations of quitations from both magazines: from first one: "... Portraits .. Hayez ... I immediately go to the fertile Molteni. Twenty one portraits of JOSEPH MOLTENI in a single exhibition! This is honorable for the painter and for the lovers ...". And in the second one: " ...The public has honored the portraits painted by Hern JOSEPH MOLTENI and I have also been tied up several times before them...". Molteni´s regular participation in the Brera exhibitions slackened in the 1850s and ceased when he was appointed curator of the Academy’s gallery in 1854.
Literature: Artist lexicons by Thieme/Becker, Benezit, Comanducci; "Giuseppe Molteni: 1800-1867, e il ritratto nella Milano romantica : pittura, collezionismo, restauro, tutela" (Italian Edition), 2000; Elena Lissoni, Giuseppe Molteni, online catalogue Artgate by Fondazione Cariplo, 2010; "La Pittura lombarda nel secolo XIX., Tipografia Capriolo e Massimino, 1900, page 41"; German Magazine Morgenblatt für gebildete Leser", Stuttgart, 1831, page 200); German magazine "Kunstblatt" by J.Schor, Stuttgart, 1828, page 403.
Provenance: Spanish private collection.
Inscription: titled and signed in Latin : Ex Tabula. J. Molteni", on the back of the painting different inscriptions, difficult to read, among them dating 1837 and Alquimista ( in Spanish, in English: Alchemist).
Technique: oil on wood panel, original period gold-plated frame.
Measurements: unframed w 12 1/4" x h 14 1/8" (31 x 36 cm); framed w 18 7/8" x h 20 7/8" (48 x 51 cm).
Condition: very good.
Seller's Story
Fine Art Gallery "ALTE KUNST", the member of CINOA (International Confederation of Art and Antique Dealers Associations), associated member of Sotheby's.
Alte Kunst specializes in buying and selling East and West European Art from the 17th to the middle of 20th centuries by international and local known artists.
We have long years of experience selling artworks to major public museums and international private collectors.
With a large private client base and bright specialization we offer a warm and correct environment for you to buy and sell fine art in our gallery in the heart of old Vienna.
GUARANTEE:
As with all the art that we sell, unless explicitly stated otherwise, the works/objects are guaranteed to be as described. At the request of the buyer to purchase will be attached the certificate of authenticy.
Please note: most of the works that we offer, are old and NOT REPLICS, some of them have been restored or may have defects that come with age.
In the descriptions we give our BEST opinion to the condition of the work.
Please have in mind, that the frames of paintings will be shipped with the paintings together, but are not the object of sale, therefore the condition of the frames can not be 100% guaranteed.
Details
Artist
Giuseppe (Joseph) Molteni (1800-1867)
Sold with frame
Yes
Title of artwork
The Alchemist
Technique
Oil painting
Signature
Hand signed
Country of origin
Italy
Year
1837
Condition
Good condition
Height
51 cm
Width
48 cm
Weight
3 kg
Depiction/theme
Portrait
Period
19th century
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