6670 - Schnorr von Carolsfeld, Julius

Schnorr von Carolsfeld, Julius Emperor Barbarossa’s Entourage on Gondolas in Venice. Pen in brown, washed with gray on tracing paper, mounted on thin cardboard. 32.1 x 38.1 cm. Monogrammed and doubly dated in the lower right: “designed 18 JS 36, completed 1868.” The drawing is a preliminary study for the large-format painting “Frederick Barbarossa’s Meeting with Pope Alexander III in Venice,” which Schnorr executed in the Imperial Halls of the Munich Residence between 1835 and 1842 on commission from King Ludwig I. Our study depicts the lower right corner of the composition, featuring Barbarossa’s entourage with musicians and dancers in ornately decorated boats. In the final composition, however, Schnorr further developed and modified the poses of various figures. The meeting between Emperor Barbarossa and Pope Alexander III took place in 1177 on St. Mark’s Square in Venice. The Peace of Venice ended the long-standing conflict between the emperor and the pope. The motif depicts the reconciliation between the Empire and the Church and was intended to symbolize German national greatness. - We ask that you request condition reports for the lots, as the condition is listed in the catalog only in exceptional cases. - Please ask for condition reports for individual lots, as the condition is usually not mentioned in the catalog.