This high-romantical genre scene was executed ca. in 1840s by well-renowed German historical, portrait and fresco artist August Ferdinand Hopfgarten (1807 Berlin - 1896 Berlin). Our painting was described in the artist's biography in two important lexicons: by Thieme/Becker, with title "3 women feeding swans" and in the monography by Fr.von Boetticher , with the title "Girls feeding swans" and with note, that this work was purchased by Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm III and was lithographed twice by Wildt and by E. Meyer.

August Ferdinand Hopfgarten studied since 1820 at the Art Academy in Berlin by Heinrich Anton Daehling, Johann Gottfried Niedlich and Wilhelm Wach. The academy price in 1825 made him possible a five-year stay in Rome between 1827 and 1832. He became the member of famous "Ponte-Molle Gesellschaft" and took part at the German exhibition in 1828. After his return 1833 he was established as successful portrait and genre painter in the tradition of old "Berliner school" and his teacher C.W.Wach. Historical painting "Tasso before Leonore von Este" (created 1839) situates in the National gallery in Berlin. He took part in stereochromen painting of the city castle chapel of Berlin and in the hero paintings in the north dome hall of the New Museum in Berlin. Since 1828 he represanted regulary in the exhibitions of Berlin Academy. In 1854 he became a professor and member of the Art Academy in Berlin. August Ferdinand Hopfgarten died on 26 July 1896 in Berlin. His grave lies on the cemetery II of the cathedral municipality in Berlin.(wikipedia)

Works by Hopfgarten:

-Wall paintings in the castle chapel of the Russian Great Princess Elizabeth Michailovna, Wife of Herzog Adolf of Nassau, Wiesbaden; -1846-1852 hero pictures in the north dome hall of the new Museum with O.D. Daege, O.D. Steinbrück, Adolf Schmidt ; -Schwäne fütternde Mädchen (in English: Girls feeding swans), very popular painting of his time; -1827-1829 Boas und Ruth, Öl auf Leinwand, 123 x 93,5 cm, National gallery, Berlin -Räuberische Sarazenen; -1839 Tasso vor Eleonora der Este, National gallery in Berlin ; -Arminia sucht ihre Geliebten unter den Hirten (After Tasso) ; -Die Rosen der heiligen Elisabeth

Literature: Prof.H.Fuchs, Lexicon of austrian artists, Vienna; Thieme/Becker "Lexicon of artists from antique to contemporary", Leipzig, 1999; Fr. von Boetticher "Painting list of 19th century", Leipzig, 1892.

Inscription: unsigned, on the back of the stretcher - original artist's label with inscription's remainder " Hopfg..".

Technique: oil on canvas. Luxuriousy original period frame.

Measurements: unframed w 17 3/4" x h 24" (45 x 61cm), framed w 25 1/3" x h 31 1/2" ( 64,5 x 80 cm).

Condition: in very good condition, original canvas.