Karl Heffner (1849-1925) was born in Würzburg where he first studied music. He was a pupil of Adolf Stademann (1824-1895) and Adolf Heinrich Lier (1826-1882) in Munich. He travelled extensively in Germany, England, Italy and Holland, exhibited in Vienna and Munich between 1873 and 1883, and in the Royal Academy in London between 1880 and 1881.
Heffner was one of the greatest exponents of the Munich School of Paintings led by A. Stademan and A. G. Lier who were his masters. This painting is part of group of six famous Italian views mounted together and depicts a view of Florence with the Boboli gardens in the foreground and the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (also known simply as the Duomo). Although his first trip to Italy is recorded in 1883, the present sketch is dated 1880. Following the Realist technique, this work was probably executed directly after the motif in open air. It work is a fine example of Heffner's mature manner, which became broader and sketchier over the years.
Physical description
An oil sketch showing the Boboli Gardens in Florence with a view of the Cathedral beyond.
Place of Origin
Florence, Italy (painted)
Date
1880 (painted)
Artist/maker
Heffner, Karl, born 1849 - died 1925 (painter (artist))
Materials and Techniques
Oil on panel
Marks and inscriptions
'K. Heffner'
'25 Mars 1880'
Dimensions
Height: 12 cm approx., Width: 21 cm approx.
Object history note
Probably acquired directly from the artist (through Thomas Wallis?) by John Hill, of Streatham; by whom bequeathed to the museum in 1894
Historical significance: This painting is a fine example of Heffner's mature manner which became broader and sketchier under the influence of such English painters as John Turner and John Constable but also the French Realists Camille Corot and Théodore Rousseau.
The colours are here applied in a thick impasto, reminiscent of Paul Cézanne's technique. It is a good example of the Realist movement that developed in the Germanic countries in the second half of the 19th century under the influence of French realism and the Barbizon school. This work was probably executed in open air, following the tradition of Realist paintings.
This work may have been painted directly for the English market as Heffner regularly supplied pictures to the English art dealer Thomas Wallis, whose business activities brought to Munich. Such pictures attracted patrons and collectors and hitherto a great extent of Heffner's oeuvre is to be found in private collections rather in public institutions. Heffner executed another of famous views from Switzerland also owns by the museum (see 866A/E-1894).
Descriptive line
Oil Painting, 'Florence, Boboli Gardens and Cathedral', Karl Heffner, German school, 1880
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Kauffmann, C.M., Catalogue of Foreign Paintings, II. 1800-1900, London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1973, pp. 46-47, cat. no. 100.
The following is the full text of the entry:
Karl HEFFNER (1849-after 1923)
German School
Born in Würzburg, he studied music and then painting in Munich. He travelled in England from the 1870s, working for his agent, the dealer Henry Wallis. In 1883 he visited Italy and then settled in Rome; he returned to Germany in 1894 to live in Dresden and ultimately in Berlin. A successful painter, he exhibited in Vienna, Munich, Berlin, London (R. A. 1880-81) and Paris. He specialized in twilight landscapes.
100
SIX SKETCHES IN ITALY (NATURSTUDIEN VON ITALIEN)
Inscribed with titles on labels on back and dated 1880
Panel
Each . ¾ x 8 ¼ (12 x 21)
867-1894
867E-94: Florence, Boboli Gardens and Cathedral. Signed lower right K. Heffner; dated on back 25 Mars 1880
Prov. John Hill, of Streatham; bequeathed to the Museum in 1894.
Materials
Oil paint; Panel
Techniques
Oil painting
Subjects depicted
Garden; Cathedral; Florence; Florence Cathedral
Categories
Paintings
Collection code
PDP
