Mastefully Nazarene painting created in the first part of 19 century and despite the fact that the painting is not signed, its provenance.fully identical style, composition, museum quality, time of creation, and a comparison with other well-known paintings by the same artist gives grounds to assert that it was painted by important German Nazarene Franz Ittenbach (1813 - 1879). For comparison see additional photos of other madonnas paintings by F.Ittenbach.

Our painting was purchased by the last owner from the property of Royal House of Hanover (important Century-auction of Sotheby´s in the Castle Marienburg "Works of Art from the Royal House of Hanover", 5 - 15 October 2005, Lot 1849), was in the property of Queen Marie Regina and exhibited in Province-Museum of Hanover (Cataogue of 1905 " Paintings in the Fideikommiss-gallery of House of Brauenschweig, which were exhibited as loan in Museum of Hanover"). On the backside of stretcher there are a few labels of queen property: MR stamp of private property of Queen Marie; original old inscription in German: Eigentum Königin (property of queen), on the lower back part of stretcher - inventory label of royal castle Marienburg with inventory number 210.

Franz Ittenbach (April 18, 1813 – December 1, 1879) was the important German religious painter. Itenbach began his art education as a student of Kaufmann, then left to study under Franz Katz in Cologne. In 1832, Ittenbach went to became a pupil, at the age of 19, of the Duesseldorf Academy, where he also received private lessons from its president, Schadow. He was a member of the Nazarene movement and associated himself mainly with three of his friends and fellow-students: Karl and Andreas Müller and Ernst Deger. The four men travelled about in Germany, studying and painting together. From 1839 to 1842, Ittenbach lived in italy. On his return, he stayed in Munich for some time. In 1849, he returned to Düsseldorf. From 1859 until his death, he was a member of the artist club "Malkasten". Ittenbach was exceedingly religious and persistently declined any commissions for mythological or pagan subjects. As a rule, he devoted his energies exclusively to church decoration. He would precede the execution of his greatest works with devout religious exercises, including confession and communion. His inest paintings are said to be found at Bonn, in the church of St. Remigius, and in Breslau in a church dedicated to the same saint. There is also a remarkable "Holy Family" dated 1861, painted for Prince Liechtenstein in his private chapel near Vienna.Most of his other works can be found in various Catholic churches in Germany. His only important fresco painted in 1844 in a church at Remagen. Ittenbach was a popular painter in court circles, a member of most of the European academies, and the recipient of many medals and decorations. He painted a few portraits, but they were unimportant; his main work was his altar-pieces.

Provenance: property of Queen Marie Regina from Royal House of Hanover ( purchased on important Century-auction of Sotheby´s in the Castle Marienburg "Works of Art from the Royal House of Hanover", 5 - 15 October 2005, Lot 1849)

Literature : Thieme/Becker "Allgemeines Künstlerlexikon", Leiptig, 1999.

Technique: oil on canvas. Luxuriousy original period gold-plated frame.Inscription: unsigned.

Measurements: unframed w 14 1/2" x 18 1/2" (37 x 47 cm); framed 22 3/4" x 26 1/3" (58 x 67 cm)

Condition: in good condition, no paintlosses, original canvas.