174 - R. WINTER (1784–1852), Tavern in Assisi, 1829, pencil

R. WINTER (1784–1852), Tavern in Assisi, 1829, pencil Raphael Winter (1784 Munich – 1852 ibid.): Inn in Assisi, 1829, pencil Technique: Pencil on paper Inscription: Signed lower right: “R. Winter.” Inscribed lower right: “Tavern in Assisi, June 6, 1829.” Date: 1829 Description: Raphael Winter was the son of the well-known Munich animal and hunting painter and etcher Joseph Georg Winter (1751–1789). He received his first art lessons from his father. His style and the instruction he received from his stepfather Johann Michael Mettenleiter had a lasting influence on his son’s work. In 1809, Winter joined the lithographic institute of the Royal Council of State in Munich, which he directed until his death. Later, together with the Dall’Armi brothers, he founded a lithographic printing house in Rome. Raphael Winter visited Italy twice, in 1803 and in the late 1820s, probably to study the landscape. The 1829 drawing of an inn in Assisi, however, shows that he apparently took every opportunity to study his favorite subject: animals. Behind the wall on the left side of the composition, a hedge evokes the beauty of the landscape. It is rendered almost imperceptibly with a few quick strokes. The artist treats the inn building in a similar manner; its essential features—such as the windows, the entrance, and the sloping roof—are captured merely with hasty pencil strokes. In contrast, he devotes all his drawing skill to the group consisting of a horse and three mules. They are sketched in full detail, including both their anatomical features and their equipment, such as the saddle and bridle. Despite the compositional emphasis on the animals, Winter succeeds in bringing to life the image of a hot Italian day before the viewer’s eyes. The sun is high in the sky, and the resting draft animals are about to continue their arduous journey through the Italian countryside. Keywords: Animals, Italy, Inn, Horses, Travel sketch, 19th century, Romanticism, Architecture, Italy, Size: Paper: 17.1 cm x 22.0 cm (6.7 x 8.7 in) Condition: Good condition. Paper minimally browned. Minimal light margins along the edges