Masterfully genre painting from 1850s depicts the visit of peasant children by Lussi wich, celebrated in the North European landes on St.Lucy´s Day on 13 december. Lussi, a female being with evil traits, like a female demon or witch, she visited peasant houses and brings the gifts, toys and apples for good children and and a broomto punish naughty children. Our work was illustrated in the monography "Weihnachten im alten Österreich" (in English: Christmas in the old Austria) by J.Sachslehner, Styria, 2009.The author of this folk genre painting is Danish artist Julius Friedlaender (1810 - Kopenhagen - 1861). Stud ibid.: from 1823 Art Academy in Copenhagen (1828 and 1829 large and small silver medalls, afterwards studying under Lund. -Worked as a history painter, but since 1833 focused on the more lucrative portrait- and genre painting and quickly gained the attention of the Royal family, which bought a lot of genre paintings by Friedlaender from 1834-48 for the Royal. Priv. Coll. and the Royal Picture-Gallery. In 1842 F. undertook a study trip to Italy, where he met in Rome other Danish painters and attended Subiaco and Capri. His works were related to those Christian Dalsgaard, although with a cheerful anekdotic facet and with one less char. as a typed character representation.

Works:

FRANKFURT am Main, Priv. Coll. works: 14 sketchbooks. Elsinore, Kronborg Castle, commercial and Maritime Museum. Hilleröd, Frederiksborg Castle, NAT. Hist. MUS. Copenhagen, Statens mus. for art. -Kpst.-ECR - Thorvaldsen-mus. -Theatre-mus. SOROe, Vestsjællands KM.

EXHIBITIONS : SP from 1828, including 1977 Rome, PAL. Braschi: Danish Painters in Rome in the 19th century / 1992 Nuremberg: an artist´s life in Rome (K).

Literature: Thieme/Becker, ADEC

Inscription: signed.

Technique: oil on canvas. Original period gold-plated frame.

Measurements: unframed w 42 1/8" x h 34 2/3" (107 x 88 cm ), framed w 53 1/2" x h 46 1/8" (136 x 117 cm)

Condition: very good.