Oil painting entitled 'Wolves Attacking a Stag and a Deer' by Friedrich Gauermann. Austrian School, 1834.

An oil painting showing two wolves leaping on a stag while a third attacks a deer on the side of a heavily forested mountain. Signed and dated by the artist.

Given by John Sheepshanks, 1857

According to Gauermann's account book, this picture was painted in February 1834 and paid for by F. W. Fink of the Albertina, who was the intermediary between Sheepshanks and the artist.

In 1851 this painting and F.A. 78 were both hanging in the dining room of Sheepshanks' London house, where they were seen by G.F. Waagen.

Given to the South Kensington Museum by John Sheepshanks, 1857.

Historical significance: Feuchtmüller lists two preparatory drawings: (1) pencil and wash, 32.6 x 27 cm., inscribed ausgeführt für Fink kam nach London I834 an Schipings [Sheepshanks], Kupferstichkabinett, Akademie der Bildenden Künste, Vienna, no. 7039: (2) pencil, 17 x 15.7 cm., Kupferstichkabinett, Dresden.

On 6 December 1834, Sheepshanks mentioned the present work in a letter to F.W. Fink: 'Mr. Edwin Landseer has already seen the picture and appeared much pleased, he was also greatly surprised at the existence of such high talent, without its beeing better known here - he advises me to allow the picture to be seen at the next annual exhibition of the British Artists, at the Royal Academy, of which Mr. Landseer is a member, and he promises to use his own personal influence, to secure a favourable place, and where it will attract notice - This step, I propose taking, provided it meets with approbation of Mr. Gauermann and yourself. The Gallery is open to the public at the beginning of May and is visited by the Royal Family and generaly by the people of rank and taste - I mention this, that you may not suppose the painters reputation will be injured.' (Original in the Akademie der bildenden Kuenste, Vienna; cited by Feuchtmüller 1962, p.152)

This composition was etched by E. Webb and B. P. Gibbon and published by F.G. Moon, 20 Threadneedle St., Ackermann & Co., Strand, and Wyatt and Son, Oxford on 13 March 1837, with the title 'Wolves Attacking Deer (A Scene in the Tyrol)'. Impressions of all four states of this print were given by Sheepshanks to the South Kensington Museum (Inv. 18614, 18615, 18619, 18620).

When the present work and FA.78 were seen by Waagen in 1851 he observed: 'Both these pictures fully display the animated conception and happy study of nature which distinguish this painter in his representation of savage animals. The execution is also careful, though the tone of colouring is somewhat heavy. These are the only pictures in the collection not by native artists'.

Gauermann was the only foreign artist represented in Sheepshanks' gift to the Museum (by this work and FA. 78) and when the Prince Consort visited the newly opened paintings gallery in 19 June 1857 he singled out these two pictures: 'In looking through the South Gallery, he noticed two pictures by Gauermann. He seemed to know him and his works. 'He was' said the Prince, 'Court painter of animals and he also painted the late Emperor of Austria and all his family ...' (F. M. Redgrave, Richard Redgrave, A memoir, 1891, p. 174.) There is no supporting evidence for the statement that he painted the Austrian Emperor; perhaps this was a royal joke.

A glass engraved with this composition is in the Niederoesterreichisches Jagdmuseum, Schloss Marchegg, Inv. Nr. 1074 (See exhibition catalogue Jagd Einst und Jetzt, Niederoesterreichische Landesausstellung, Schloss Marchegg 1978, cat. no. 538 & ill.).

This dramatic scene seems to have been commissioned from the artist, through an intermediary, by John Sheepshanks; an inscription on one of the preparatory drawings (now in the Vienna Academy) states that it is for 'Schipings' [Sheepshanks]. Gauermann was popular with both the Austrian aristocracy and foreign patrons for his Romantic alpine scenes and rapacious animals. Sheepshanks seems to have been pleased with this painting, for he bought another one from Gauermann the following year for the very high price of 500 florins (five times the price he paid for this picture).

FA.77[O]