Franz von Stuck (1863-1928), d'après - The Sin

Franz von Stuck (1863-1928), 1893 original photolithography.

Original photolithography (1893) by the German Symbolist painter, sculptor, printmaker and architect Franz von Stuck (1863 - 1928). Stuck was best known for his paintings of ancient mythology, receiving substantial critical acclaim with The Sin in 1892. In 1906, Stuck was awarded the Order of Merit of the Bavarian Crown and was henceforth known as Ritter von Stuck.

Born at Tettenweis near Passau, Stuck displayed an affinity for drawing and caricature from an early age. To begin his artistic education he relocated in 1878 to Munich, where he would settle for life. From 1881 to 1885 Stuck attended the Munich Academy.

He first became well known by cartoons for Fliegende Blätter, and vignette designs for programmes and book decoration. In 1889 he exhibited his first paintings at the Munich Glass Palace, winning a gold medal for "The Guardian of Paradise".

In 1892 Stuck co-founded the Munich Secession, and also executed his first sculpture, Athlete. The next year he won further acclaim with the critical and public success of what is now his best known work, the painting The Sin. Also during 1893, Stuck was awarded a gold medal for painting at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, and was appointed to a royal professorship. In 1895, he began teaching painting at the Munich Academy.

Stuck's subject matter was primarily from mythology, inspired by the work of Arnold Böcklin. Large forms dominate most of his paintings and indicate his proclivities for sculpture. His seductive female nudes are a prime example of popular Symbolist content. Stuck paid much attention to the frames for his paintings and generally designed them himself with such careful use of panels, gilt carving and inscriptions that the frames must be considered as an integral part of the overall piece.

Signed on plate.

H 20,70 x W 18,70 cm (sheet)
H 15,40 x W 13,35 cm (matrix)

Provenance: The rare 1893 Dr. E. Albert & Co. / Münchener Kunst und Verlargs-Anstalt "Franz von Stuck" folio.

State of Conservation: Excellent conservation state; no signs of previous restoration or conservation interventions; trimmed.