Lot 22: Theodor von Hörmann (Austrian, 1840-1895) Orange sellers

Orange sellers
signed and dated 'THörmann 75 Wien' (lower right)
oil on canvas
63.5 x 110cm (25 x 43 5/16in).

The present lot shows the house of the former bell foundry in Grasmayr at the northern end of Brixen, which today is owned by the publishing company Athesia. In the autumn of 1874 Theodore von Hörmann spent a few days in the Brixen area, as is documented in his sketchbooks and several other paintings. The painting shown is signed 'THörmann 75 Wien' which suggests that it was finished after his return to Vienna, where he visited the Academy (initially, Hörmann was an officer at the military school St Polten, where he worked as a drawing and fencing teacher. He studied at the academy simultaneously). Hörmann worked to a high degree of topographical precision, which make his paintings historically accurate documents. The present lot shows the houses along Brixen's northern exit route with the Zinggen church in the background. The most distinctive building is shown on the right – the Grasmayr-house - with a big bay window and the lattice balcony, which rests on stone brackets. The same house is shown in smaller paintings but from different angles, such as that painted on 17th September 1874.

As can be seen in the illustration, the present lot shows a group of horses pulling a log cart and beyond the turnpike a house to the left is marked as a tollhouse. On the green to the right, women gather to sell oranges under the shelter of a red umbrella while children play nearby. This offering of oranges seemed interesting for the painter and as such it was titled Orange Sellers. The measurements of 63.5 x 110 cm. make this early artwork a strikingly big one in Hörmann's oeuvre and it shows a confident young painter at the beginning of his career with a secure knowledge of composition and atmosphere. After a stay in paris friom 1886 to 1889 Hörmann became one of the leading impressionistic painters in Austria. He died 1895 in Graz.

We are very grateful to Magdalena Hörmann-Weingartner for providing the above information.