This monumental mythological painting was executed in Rome by one of the best German historical painters of 19th century Carl Ludwig Friedrich Becker (1820 - Berlin - 1900). This work was presented by the author on the important Great Berlin Art Exhibition in 1897 (see additional photo of the exhibition label on the reverse of stretcher ).

The motive of this painting "Apollon by sheperds" is old greek mythological story about Apollon, the god of light and the sun; music, poetry, and the arts; medicine, healing, and plague: the God father Zeus presented a punishment to the God Apollon for the killing of the Zyklopen : he had to descend from the luxuriosy Olymp and serve the thessalic king Admetos as shepherd. Instead he contacted with beautiful speech and music herdsmen and farmers. Apoll had not only brought the high culture to humans, had directly communicated themselves also the beauty of his feature.

Becker painted predominantly historical and mythological many figure representations, he held a Professur, and later became the president of the Berlin Art Academy like also joint founder of the Art Association in Rome. Carl Ludwig Friedrich Becker was a pupil of August von Klöber, Peter von Cornelius, and Heinrich Maria von Hess, and afterwards studied a year in Paris, two years in Rome and visited Venice.He first attained success with subjects of the Venetian Renaissance. Later in life, he made many visits to Venice to study paintings drawn from life in the 15th and 16th centuries. The chief characteristics of his manner are historical fidelity, skillfulness of technique, and richness of coloring. His works include “Belisarius as a Beggar” (1850), “Jeweler at a Venetian Senator´s” (1855), “Visit of Sebastian del Piombo to Titian” (1861), “Doge in Council” (1864), “Charles V and Fugger” (1870), “Dürer in Venice” (1873), “Charles V Visiting Titian” (1873), “In the Picture Gallery” (1874), “Bianca Capello” (1874), “Scene from the Marriage of Figaro” (1874), “Emperor Maximilian Receiving the Venetian Embassy” (1877), and frescos for the Berlin Museum.

Literature : Thieme/Becker "Lexicon of artists from antique to contemporary" (in German), Leipzig, 1999; Friedrich von Boetticher "Malerwerke des 19 Jahrhunderts", Leipzig, 1892,

Inscription: signed and inscribed Rome lower left , on the reverse of stretcher - original exhibition label of Great Berlin Art Exhibition in 1897.

Technique: oil on canvas. Luxuriousy original period gilt frame.

Measurements: unframed w 84 1/3" x h 59 4/5 " (215 x 152 cm), framed w 92 1/2" x h 67 2/3" ( 235 x 172 cm)

Condition: in very good condition.