Brilliant romantic portrait of a young fisher (italian or Greek) was executed in the first half of 19th century and was purchased in Viennese Auktionshaus Dorotheum as fisher portrait of uknown Biedermeier painter. The quality and early creation dating of this portrait showed at the beginning of our research, that it is executed by one of the master from Austrian or German Biedermeier School. We continued scrupulous to inspect it and found the old original inscription on the upper edge of the original frame (see add. photo) . This said to be the name of the artist,the author of the painting which was noticed for memory by the previous owner of the painting: " Frankenberger J." In addition on the frame situated the old Dorotheum number , where the painting was purchased at first time by the owner. We compared our portrait with famous portraits by Johann Frankenberger, famous German-Austrian romanicist and portrait painter, and came to conclusion, that it is identical and typical stilistic work by him .

For other portrait of the same artist see our item No. 6093.

Johann Frankenberger (1807 Hadamar/Nassau - 1874 Vienna) was German-Austrian romanticist painter, lithographer and etcher. After his study at the Viennese Academy (by Johann Ender and K.Gselhofer, in 1828 - Count Czernin prize), he moved to Limburg/Wiebaden, Mainz, Braunfels, where he worked a few years as court painter y Prince Solms-Braunfels. In 1838 he came back to Vienna. Frankenberger created genre scenes : "Card-player"; "Rastelbinder", both situated by Prince Liechtenstein; "Mother love" (described by Boetticher) ; hunting scenes , portraits of Royal house and living in those time in Vienna wealthy Greeks Jews and Armenians. Famous are his portraits of Imperor Franz Josef; Herzog Ferdinand von Wuerttemberg; Goverment President von Lichtenberg (Wiesbaden) ; Austrian field marshal Kempen von Fichtenstamm and lieutenant von Kulmbach; Frankenberger created also lithographies of famous Viennese actors : actress Sophie Mueller, court actor Fr. Wilhelmi and others.

Literature : Thieme/Becker "Allgemeines Lexikon der bildenden Künstler von der Antike bis zur Gegenwart"; Fr.von Boetticher "Malerwerke des 19. Jahrhunderts", Leipzig, 1901.

Inscription: unsigned, on the upper edge of the orginal frame - old inscription with the name of the artist and old invent. number of auctionshouse Dorotheum.

Technique: oil on canvas. Splendid original period gold-plated frame.

Measurements: unframed w 31 1/2" x h 39 3/4 " (80 x 101 cm), framed w 37 3/4" x h 42 1/8 " (96 x 117 cm)

Condition: in very good condition.