Lot 414: Alexander Kircher (German, b.1867)

The King of Sweden receives the Spanish monarchs signed and dated 'Alex.Kircher/1931' (lower left) oil on canvas 120 x 200 cm. NOTES This painting depicts the historical event of 1928 when the Spanish King Alfonso XIII visited Stockholm on the 14th of September with the Spanish cruiser Principe Alfonso. He was invited on the Royal Barge of Sweden Wasaorden, which was under the command of Lt. Commander A Ells‚n, to meet the Swedish King Gustav V. The Swedish Prince Gustav Adolf and Crownprince Gustav Adolf (who later became King Gustav VI Adolf) were in attendance of this event. As a sign of honour the Wasaorden carried the Spanish flag, along side the Swedish Royal flag on the foremast. The royal barge here depicted was built in Gal„rvarvet in 1923 after drawings made by J. Neuendorff in 1775 for the original barge. V. Israelsson from the Navy's engineering's department adapted these drawings in 1922, and the Royal Barge was rebuilt as shown in the present lot. This new shallop has a length of 17.88 meters and a beam of 3.10 meters. Its draught is 1.19 meters and it has a displacement of around 12 metric tons. It has twenty-one oars, eighteen of which are in use and three are spare. The original oars still exist but are not in use at present. The tiller, iron rail, boathooks, curtains and cushons are from the old barge.