78 - R. ERBE (1844–1903), Mountain Stream in the Achental Valley, Watercolor

R. ERBE (1844–1903), Mountain Stream in the Achental Valley, Watercolor Robert Erbe (1844, Generate – 1903, Oberlößnitz): Mountain Stream with Cascade in the Achental Valley; Wild Natural Landscape, 19th century, Watercolor Technique: Watercolor over pencil on paper Stamp: – Collector’s stamp on the reverse, Lugt no.: 3549. Erhard Oskar Kaps (1915, Leipzig – 2007, Leipzig). Leipzig. 20th century – Collector’s stamp on the reverse, Lugt no.: 4641. Dr. Rainer Kaps (b. 1945). Leipzig. 20th century – Collector’s stamp on the reverse, Lugt no.: 3551. Ines Kaps. Leipzig. 20th century Inscription: Lower right, dated: “Achenthal [?] Juli 18[?]”. Date: 19th century Description: Robert Erbe, a native of Gera, is particularly well known as an animal painter and silhouette cutter. As a boy, he was likely already interested in depicting animals in drawings and silhouettes. However, the two watercolors shown here depict landscapes and scenes of nature without figures. The care and precision with which the details of nature are rendered demonstrate the profound influence that Richter’s teacher’s work had on the young artist, even though his time in Richter’s landscape class was brief. Around 1867, he attended the Dresden Academy for just over a year in total, during which time he also took Richter’s classes in the intermediate section for a few months. In addition to native wild, domestic, and farm animals, he also frequently depicted exotic animals, which he was able to see at the newly opened zoological garden in Dresden in 1861. Depictions of birds form a particularly large group in Erbe’s oeuvre, which he mainly captured in watercolors and drawings. Woodcuts based on his paintings can be found in the magazine *Deutsche Jugend*, published by Julius Lohmeyer in Leipzig between 1873 and 1885, as well as in the *Illustrirte Monatshefte*. His silhouettes, which could be purchased from a bookbinder in Dresden, provided Erbe with a modest income. He died at the age of 59 at his home in Oberlößnitz (now a district of Radebeul). Keywords: Richter’s students; Ludwig Richter; Romanticism; Landscape painting; Dresden; Academy; 19th century; Realism; Nature; Germany; Size: Paper: 19.1 cm x 16.2 cm (7.5 x 6.4 in) Condition: Very good condition. Slightly discolored, with minimal staining in places.