Otto Grashof

$5,700.00

Otto Grashof (German, 1812 - 1876)

Wide landscape with horses, Cologne 1850

Oil on canvas

62 cm × 83 cm

Provenance: private collection

Signed and dated bottom-center: O. Grashof 1850.

A landscape with gnarled trees and a wide view, in the foreground several detailed and masterfully executed horses and a herding boy, in the distance the silhouette of a church village, the whole scenery under a wide sky. Otto Grashof shows us the quality of his painting art in a landscape photograph of the Lower Rhine that is unusual for him: the perspective foreshortening of the horses from different angles, the skillful treatment of the surface of the fur in contrast to the accentuated leaves, his clear lines in the portraits. With such paintings he had success at the court of the tsars in Russia and was now back in his home town of Cologne looking for new clients. The revolution of 1848 had left its mark and had an impact on the artist's life.

Otto Grashof was trained as a portrait and history painter in Berlin and Düsseldorf. At the Düsseldorf Academy he was a student of Wilhelm Schadow. Since the young artist did not have career opportunities in either the Rhineland or Prussia after completing his studies, he joined a merchant who traveled to St. Petersburg in early February 1838 in the hope of better job opportunities in Russia - with success. He stayed there and in Moscow until 1845 and received commissions from the highest social class, including the tsarist family. Tsar Nicholas I was benevolent towards German artists. At first, Grashof was supported by German merchants; you had him portray you. Since the pictures were excellently executed, a large group of people became aware of him: he also painted family pictures, equestrian scenes, bear hunts, the zealotist Vasily Veliki and landscapes. He also devoted himself to historical topics as a demonstration of Russian military history such as the Russo-Ottoman War of 1828/29. Influenced by his stay in Russia from 1840 onwards, his subjects became more and more exotic for contemporary tastes.

After his return he stayed in the Rhineland for a few years, during which he sought contact and support from the Prussian king and from 1852 went to Argentina. Carsten Roth writes in his entry on Grashof in the general artist lexicon that the real reason for the trip was the sale of a number of works in South America.

All of our works are covered by our own guarantee of authenticity which covers the work for its lifetime of ownership with the purchaser. We carry out stringent due diligence on every work listed, should we make an error then we offer a full money back guarantee on any purchase.

Otto Grashof (German, 1812 - 1876)

Wide landscape with horses, Cologne 1850

Oil on canvas

62 cm × 83 cm

Provenance: private collection

Signed and dated bottom-center: O. Grashof 1850.

A landscape with gnarled trees and a wide view, in the foreground several detailed and masterfully executed horses and a herding boy, in the distance the silhouette of a church village, the whole scenery under a wide sky. Otto Grashof shows us the quality of his painting art in a landscape photograph of the Lower Rhine that is unusual for him: the perspective foreshortening of the horses from different angles, the skillful treatment of the surface of the fur in contrast to the accentuated leaves, his clear lines in the portraits. With such paintings he had success at the court of the tsars in Russia and was now back in his home town of Cologne looking for new clients. The revolution of 1848 had left its mark and had an impact on the artist's life.

Otto Grashof was trained as a portrait and history painter in Berlin and Düsseldorf. At the Düsseldorf Academy he was a student of Wilhelm Schadow. Since the young artist did not have career opportunities in either the Rhineland or Prussia after completing his studies, he joined a merchant who traveled to St. Petersburg in early February 1838 in the hope of better job opportunities in Russia - with success. He stayed there and in Moscow until 1845 and received commissions from the highest social class, including the tsarist family. Tsar Nicholas I was benevolent towards German artists. At first, Grashof was supported by German merchants; you had him portray you. Since the pictures were excellently executed, a large group of people became aware of him: he also painted family pictures, equestrian scenes, bear hunts, the zealotist Vasily Veliki and landscapes. He also devoted himself to historical topics as a demonstration of Russian military history such as the Russo-Ottoman War of 1828/29. Influenced by his stay in Russia from 1840 onwards, his subjects became more and more exotic for contemporary tastes.

After his return he stayed in the Rhineland for a few years, during which he sought contact and support from the Prussian king and from 1852 went to Argentina. Carsten Roth writes in his entry on Grashof in the general artist lexicon that the real reason for the trip was the sale of a number of works in South America.

All of our works are covered by our own guarantee of authenticity which covers the work for its lifetime of ownership with the purchaser. We carry out stringent due diligence on every work listed, should we make an error then we offer a full money back guarantee on any purchase.