(Prague 1827–1896 Vienna) “Abendlandschaft” (Evening Landscape), on the reverse old title, signed and dated J. Kautsky 1853, oil on canvas, 100 x 135 cm, framed, (Rei)

Provenance: Private property, Vienna;
562nd Art Auction, Dorotheum Vienna, 3 December 1963, lot 58;
1187th Art Auction, Dorotheum Vienna, 3 Nov. 1964, lot 50;
Private property, Vienna.

Jan Kautsky
It is only due to the works of Jan Kautsky which have appeared in recent years that we are now better acquainted with this talented landscape painter and his long forgotten œuvre. Johann Kautsky was an extremely active painter in the 1850s, regularly exhibiting many of his works at the annual exhibitions in Prague. The landscapes Kautsky executed in the 1850s are reminiscent of Adolf Kosarek’s monumentalizing Bohemian landscapes, and with every newly discovered work, marks a constantly growing, notable phase in the creative work of this pupil of Max Haushofer. Kautsky joined Haushofer’s studio in 1844 and remained here until 1850 before moving to the Düsseldorf Academy to study under J. W. Schirmer. This 1853 work is this painter’s largest known painting. In view of its monumental format there can be no doubt that the artist exhibited this work at one of the exhibitions of the Art Association in Prague. However, we are not able to definitely identify the painting with one of the works displayed.

We are grateful to Dr. Mihal Simek for his assistance in cataloguing this work.