This is a rare museum-quality pencil sketch.
A: Group of Studies of Men and Women at a Marketplace
Pencil on buff coloured paper, with wash
Sheet Size: 15.6 x 20.5 cm
Frame Size: 30 x 35 cm.
This is one of two studies in my Etsy shop by the listed Swiss artist - Wolfgang Adam Toepffer (1766 - 1847).
This lovely study dates to the late 18th century or early 19th century.
The artist was born on 20 May in Geneva and died there on 10 August 1847.
Toepffer was a celebrated Swiss painter of genre and landscape subjects of the Romantic period. He studied for a period in Paris before returning to Geneva. His paintings were popular and a couple of them were in the collection of the Empress Maria Fyodorovana (the mother of the French Empress Josephine). He won a gold medal at the Louvre Exhibition in 1812.
There are two academic publications about Toepffer: "Wolfgang-Adam Toepffer" published by the Library of Arts, Lausanne in 1996: ISBN 2-88453-008-8. This consists of some 400 pages with 115 colour illustrations and 220 black and white ones). Also "Wolfgang-Adam Toepffer: Paintings". Published by Benteli in 2011.
Toepffer's works often sell through top auction houses - and obviously, he is much sought after by Swiss buyers.
My two studies in my shop are both very competent and carefully observed works made by the artist. They feature a crowd scene probably quickly on the spot at a continental marketplace. Beautiful sketches - they are not signed by him as they are studies for a larger work and as such, it would be certainly unusual to see his signature on such a sketch.
PROVENANCE: they have been through a Swiss / Zurich auction house in the past - and there is an old label for a Zurich auction house on the back of each work - which I have photographed for your inspection.
Also, stylistically they relate to a group of four studies sold at Christie's in Zurich (Sale 1351, Lot 29, 3 December 2007). These studies, I think, have either come from the same sketchbook as mine - or were certainly drawn at the same time - as the characters depicted in my sheets and those sold via Christie's are in identical in costume, style, and detail. Toepffer included similar busy groups of figures in his oil paintings - often shown them bustling about and boarding boats on the shores of Lake Geneva.
Another watercolour by him sold as Lot 22 for $5,878, and a painting in the same sale sold for the dizzy price of $106,869. So certainly he is well sought after and commands good prices at Swiss auctions:
CONDITION: Both my studies are in good condition - drawn with graphite or dark pencil on a buff coloured wove paper. The sheet is tinted slightly with a thin watercolour wash to give paper tone. There is no rubbing to the drawing, no foxing to the sheet - and framed with a simple gold frame - in pretty good condition (a later 20th-century frame). They have been finely presented with a line wash mount and the artist's name below: A.W. TOEPFFER (obviously the continental name has been swapped around in inscribing the initials on the mount.)
Both my drawings are in matching frames and both are ready to just hang on your wall. Fine additions to any collection of Swiss Art. They are being sold as genuine drawings by Toepffer.
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