Lot 655: WILLMANN Michael Lukas Leopold (27. 9. 1630

WILLMANN Michael Lukas Leopold (27. 9. 1630 Konigsberg - 26. 8. 1706 Leubus) The Annunciation Oil on canvas, 51,5 x 54, 5 cm, framed, undated [2nd half of the 17th century], unsigned, relined, with an expertise by Mgr. Vl. Rislink. German painter, significant representative of Baroque painting. He was J. K. Liska's stepfather and teacher. Apart from other towns he was also active in Prague and Berlin, he was mainly commissioned religious institutions, e.g. by the Cistercian order. After his stay in Holland his work was stamped with the influence of Rembrandt, P. P. Rubens, Van Dyck and Dutch landscape painters. In about 1653 he came to Prague. In Berlin he worked for the Elector Heinrich Wilhelm. He created a number of paintings with religious and mythological subjects, landscapes, portraits and fresco paintings. His characteristic expressive style also reflected the influence of counter-reformation exaltation and mysticism as well as his conversion to Catholicism and his stay in the Cistercian monastery in Libus. In his work he dealt with issues related to martyrdom, death and inner love as depicted in scenes from the life of the Holy Family. His work had a great influence on e.g. P. J. Brandl and V. V. Reiner. His work includes e.g. the Annunciation from the Cistercian monastery in Zdar nad Sazavou, paintings for the Church of Saint Francis of Seraphim in Prague, paintings in the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Cistercian monastery in Sedlec near Kutna Hora and paintings in the Cistercian monastery in Velehrad. See T 2/704, TB 36/32, B 10/747. -P-