This winter scene with ice skaters on frozen lake was executed in 1868 by famous Austrian marine and landscape painter Josef Carl Berthold Puettner (1821 - 1881). The artist worked in Vienna, and since 1869 in Bad Vöslau. Since 1842 regulary participation on exhibitions of Viennese Academy, since 1861 - member of the arist union"Kuenstlerhaus". In 1846/1847 he lived in Rome, travelled to Venice, Holland, Island. Later he returned to Vienna , where created landscapes paintings after his travels. Being the only seascape painter in this city, has received a lot of orders for seascapes. In 1850 he visited the island of Helgoland and Hamburg, where he became friendship with an owner of ships Godefrua, which , give him an opportunity to make a great sea voyage. In 1851, rounded Cape Horn, Püttner visited Valparaiso and some of the islands of the Pacific Ocean, traveling in South and North America, after which he returned to Vienna. Results of this journey were paintings: "Storm at sea and shipwreck off Cape Horn" (1854! Viennese national gallery);"Venetian Lagoon" (1857), "Sea battle near Helgoland" (1864), "Sea battle near Lissa" (1866), "Moonlight on the sea shore," "Fire on the ship", "Castaways" and others. In 1869 he settled in Bad Vööslau by Vienna.Most important works by Puettner are in museums: Rudolfinum in Praque, Salzburg, Vienna, castle Weikersdorf and under important European and American collections.

Literature: Thieme-Becker "Allgemeines Lexikon der bildenden Künstler"; H.Fuchs "Die Osterreichischen Maler".

Inscription: signed and dat 1868,  lower right.

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

Measurements: unframed w 20 7/8" x h 22 7/8" (53 x 58 cm); framed 26" x 29 7/8"  (71 x 76 cm).

Condition: in good cleaned condition.