181 - Wengler, Johann Baptist

Wengler, Johann Baptist Sketchbook. Circa 1835–1850. Contains 26 sheets with numerous drawings in pencil, some in brown and black pen, washed in gray, some in watercolor, and some highlighted in white, on vellum. Half-leather binding with marbled paper cover. Cover dimensions 24 x 32 cm. On the endpaper, a calligraphic ownership inscription “Johann Bap: Wengler” in pen, next to which is the note “Schüler Ranftls” in a later hand. Some sheets are numbered in pencil. Provenance: Private collection, Vienna. - Cf. ÖBL 1815–1950, vol. 16 (issue 70, 2019), p. 116ff. (On the biography). - Ubell, Wengler, 1909. (On the work). - An extensive sketchbook by the Viennese Biedermeier painter Johann Baptist Wengler, a graduate of the Vienna Academy and a student of Johann Matthias Ranftl, who later became known for his rural genre scenes and traveled to North America in 1850, where he created numerous watercolors among the Sioux, Chippewa, and Menominee. This album likely dates from his time studying drawing under Johann Nepomuk della Croce or from his early years at the Academy. The drawings include, among other things, genre studies, portraits, religious scenes, anatomical studies with handwritten explanations, allegorical studies, as well as animal and landscape studies, including a gray-washed depiction of female reapers—a motif that Wengler also explored in a cartoon dated 1851. Precise contours, finely graded hatching and washes, as well as a keen sense of anatomy, texture, and lighting, attest to a remarkably steady hand. - On folio 22 is a bust of a man that bears a strong resemblance in composition, form, and execution to the “Woman from the Pinzgau” in Ubell (p. 110). His central genre theme is already present here in numerous preparatory drawings in many places. - The binding is heavily rubbed and bumped, with missing sections of the cover; the spine is loose. The paper is age-browned, with occasional stock and finger stains, and some water marks. Overall in good condition. Magnificent studies and sketches executed with great skill and attention to detail. Sketchbook. Contains 26 leaves with numerous drawings in pencil, some in brown and black pen, washed in gray and partly watercolored, some highlighted in white, on vellum. Half-leather binding with a marbled paper cover. Cover dimensions 24 x 32 cm. On the endpaper, a calligraphic ownership inscription “Johann Bap: Wengler” in pen, next to it a note “Schüler Ranftls” in a later hand. Some sheets numbered in pencil. Provenance: Private collection, Vienna. - See ÖBL 1815–1950, vol. 16 (issue 70, 2019), pp. 116ff. (Biography). - Ubell, Wengler, 1909. (On the work). - Extensive sketchbook by the Viennese Biedermeier painter Johann Baptist Wengler, a graduate of the Vienna Academy and a student of Johann Matthias Ranftl, who later became known for his rural genre scenes and traveled to North America in 1850, where he created numerous watercolors depicting, among others, the Sioux, Chippewa, and Menominee. This album likely dates from his time studying drawing under Johann Nepomuk della Croce or from his early years at the Academy. The drawings include, among other things, genre studies, portraits, religious scenes, anatomical studies with handwritten explanations, allegorical studies, as well as animal and landscape studies, including a gray-washed depiction of female reapers—a motif that Wengler also explored in a cardboard sketch dated 1851. Precise contours, finely graded hatching and washes, as well as a keen sense of anatomy, texture, and lighting, attest to a remarkably steady hand. - - On folio 22 is a bust of a man that bears a strong resemblance in composition, form, and execution to the “Woman from Pinzgau” in Ubell (p. 110). His central genre theme is already evident here in numerous preparatory sketches found throughout the book. - The binding is heavily rubbed and bumped, with missing sections on the cover; the spine is loose. The paper is age-browned, with occasional foxing and fingerprints, and some water stains. Overall in good condition. Magnificent studies and sketches executed with great skill and attention to detail. This lot is subject to standard tax. A 24.95% buyer’s premium applies to the hammer price, and 7% (Books and Art) or 19% VAT (Manuscripts, Screenprints, Offset Prints, Photographs) applies to the final invoice amount within the European Union. This work is subject to the standard tax regime. A 24.95% buyer’s premium applies to the hammer price, and 7% (books and art) or 19% VAT (manuscripts, screen prints, offset prints, and photographs) applies to the final invoice amount within the European Union.