Important genre painting executed in 1852 by well known German painter Reinhard Sebastian Zimmermann and depicting genre scene in the day of holy three kings (by catholic tradition - on 6 january): three boys with crowns of gold paper and the star at putting prepared for the village round. The painting was very popular at that time , so Zimmermann executed in order of clients a few versions of it. One of them is our painting (see Boetticher, No.3, p.1060), another one situated in the Museum of Linz (Oberösterreichische Landesmuseum), the third version was sold in Vienna, Dorotheum on 27.May 2004 . Also today this motive is very popular among art collectors and this is the reason, why the author Johannes Sachslehner took our painting in his new monography " Weihnachten im alten Österreich" (Christmas in old Austria) as one of main representations about Christmas ( edition house Styria, Vienna, 2009, p.154-155 ). For illustration from the monography as property of our gallery see additional photos

Reinhard Sebastian Zimmermann (1815 Hagnau by Bodensee - 1893 Munich) was famous German genre painter. 1870 Zimmermann completed commercial study and entered afterwards as a buyer assistant into the business of his cousin in Meersburg. In Meersburg he began also for the first time to be concerned with the portrait painting. From 1840 to 1842 Zimmermann studied at the Academy of Arts in Munich , followed from a study stay in Paris and journeys to London and Brussels. After his return to Munich 1847 he took part actively in the civil revolution of 1848. In the meantime his artistic call had strengthened in such a way that he became jury member during the art and industrial show 1854 in Munich . During the general German art exhibition in Cologne 1861 he was awarded with gold medal. One year later he was appointed by Grand Duke Friedrich I. to the court painter of Baden. Further study trips followed to Venice and Paris. He received 1873 on the international exhibition in the Royal Albert resounds in London to bronze medal. One year later he was sent by the Grand Duke of Baden Friedrich I. for six weeks to study stays to Paris and Versailles. Later folowed still further study stays in Italy. 1Since 878 Zimmermann lieved in his place of birth Hagnau. 1884 he was distinguished with the knight cross Ith class of the Zähringer lion orden.

Literature: "Malerwerke des 19. Jahrhunderts" by Fr.v.Boetticher,p.1060, Nr.3 (with title in German: "Die drei Könige"); Lexicon by Thieme/Becker; Siegfried Tann, Bernd Wiedmann (Herausgeber): Der Genremaler Reinhard Sebastian Zimmermann. 1815-1893. exhibiton cataloque, Gessler, Friedrichshafen 1986

Inscription: signed and dated 1852 lower left.

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

Measurements: unframed 30 3/4" x 24 1/2" (78 x 62 cm), framed 41 3/4" x 35 1/2" (106,5 x 90 cm)

Condition: very good.