(Plan 1821–1881 Hallstatt)
The sea battle at Helgoland on 9 May 1864, signed, dated J. C. B. Püttner 1865, on the reverse a buisiness card of the artist and remains of a label, oil on canvas, 103.5 x 151 cm, framed, (W)

Provenance:
Private Collection Czech Repulick;
sale, Dorotheum Prague, 24 May 2014, lot 166;
acquired there by the current owner.

Josef Carl Berthold Püttner became a much-appreciated marine painter in the nineteenth century. His Romantic, weighty and sometimes gloomy seascapes and landscapes even enjoyed popularity among his contemporaries. After completing his artistic education in Italy, he specialised in marine painting, training himself in this subject during numerous journeys. In 1850, the Hamburg shipowner Godefroy made it possible for him to travel free of charge on all his ships, which was where many of his works were created. From 1855 onwards, Püttner settled in Austria. In the following year he was awarded the title of Imperial-Royal Court Marine Painter. He achieved this through an Imperial commission for a large seascape, which saw him complete a study trip to Helgoland in 1864. The present lot depicting the sea battle at Helgoland was also created during this period.

The naval battle at Helgoland took place on 9 May 1864 during the Second Schleswig War, with a Danish squadron led by Edouard Suenson fighting an Austrian-Prussian squadron under the command of the Austrian captain Wilhelm von Tegetthoff. Although Captain Tegetthoff had to withdraw from combat because of a fire on his ship, he was able to achieve an important strategic and moral success. The Danes did not pursue the enemy ships and they lifted the blockades.
This painting shows the Austrian frigate SMS Schwarzenberg (which caught fire) to the right in the foreground. Dark, heavy clouds of smoke rise from the ship’s mast and the flames are reflected in the water. The turbulent sea testifies to the battle and Püttner impressively conveys the significance of this event, which caused Captain Wilhelm Tegetthoff to be promoted to Rear Admiral.