Ludwig Willroider, Austrian 1845-1910- Wooded... Lot 489

Ludwig Willroider, Austrian 1845-1910- Wooded landscape with a distant figure walking amongst trees; oil on panel, 'Lud Willroider' (lower left), the reverse stamped 'Aus dem Nachlasse / Ludwig Willroider' and 'MUNCHEN', and bears typed label 'Staatl. Kunsthalle / Karlsruhe / WILLROIDER / Ludwig / "Landschaft" / Inv. Nr. / RÖ 79', 36 x 24 cm. Provenance: Private Collection, UK. Note: Having initially worked as a carpentry apprentice to his father, Willroider turned his hand to painting, travelling to Munich to study at the Academy of Fine Arts in the city. It was here that Willroider was taught by Eduard Schleich the Elder (1812-1874), and enjoyed the mentorship of the landscape artist Carl Ebert (1821-1885), whom he accompanied on painting trips, and whose forest scenes undoubtedly influenced Willroider's own approach. The present work is typical of Willroider's style, executed in his characteristically earthy and atmospheric colour palette. The composition of the painting, in a portrait format, emphasises the immense, imposing height of the trees, contrasting with the tiny figure in the centre.