Mittenwald Museum Association gets hold of new work of art.
30. Fritz Prölß painting is located under the Karwendel.
Mittenwald
- Around 120 years old and a real beauty - the latest treasure of the Mittenwald violin making museum is a flawless oil painting.
It clearly shows the typically fine brushstroke of the artist Fritz Prölß.
He has immortalized a dashing waitress in costume on canvas, who hands a local hunter or poacher a beer stein in a hearty pub.
A scene that the German portrait and genre painter is likely to have observed himself around 1900.
As is well known, the native of Dresden, who moved to Munich in 1879, spent every summer in the violin-making town for over 50 years.
He loved to watch the social goings-on in inns.
Got inspiration.
There he also created most of his works.
Rainer W. Leonhardt, Deputy Chairman of the Mittenwald Museum Association, has now got hold of one of them.
A few days ago he received a call from Munich.
A private collector was on the line.
The city dweller “is a big Mittenwald fan,” explains Leonhardt.
Has often been on vacation in the Upper Isar Valley.
Of course he knows the history of Prölß and his deep love for the violin making place.
For the Munich resident it was therefore a heartfelt wish that his picture is presented to a broad public in Mittenwald.
He offered it to the museum association for just 2500 euros - with the condition that the classic pub scene is exhibited in the museum.
Leonhardt and Anton Sprenger, both violin makers and the latter chairman of the museum association, are of course happy to comply.
“We didn't think about it for a minute.
It is rare that a Prölß painting has been preserved in such excellent condition, ”says Leonhardt.
The colors are strong, the canvas is undamaged and the magnificent frame is original - the painting from 1900 is as good as perfect.
"Stylistically, it fits into the painter's time," says Sprenger.
Even if it is not his “favorite portrayal of the painter”, he is amazed by the flawless work of art.
Leonhardt, who has to do business in Munich several times, personally picked up the 60 by 45 centimeter painting.
He and Sprenger took a close look at it.
It was immediately clear that it was an original.
The 25th picture of Prölß that Leonhardt and Sprenger got hold of in their 15 years as chairmen.
The 30th painting in total that the violin making museum houses and is allowed to exhibit to the public.
But first it had to be "prepared", as Leonhardt says.
A completely normal procedure for a 120 year old plant.
Dust and, above all, nicotine are constantly deposited on the canvas.
But with special white cloths, the works of art are as good as new after several hours of revision.
In addition, the two restored the brackets and cleaned the frame.
Guests will soon be able to marvel at the Prölß painting in the violin making museum.