(Vienna 1803–1887)
Portrait of His Brother Andreas, oil on canvas, 51.5 x 41 cm, framed

Provenance:
Dorotheum Vienna, Friedrich von Amerling estate auction, 3 May 1916, lot 33;
acquired by Hans Georg Biehn (1855-1941), Budapest;
Collection of Theodor Abelmann (1867-1937), Vienna;
his widow Louisa Lea Abelmann (1874-1949), Vienna/Sydney;
forced sale to the Führermuseum, Linz (inv. no. 493);
Reichskunstdepot Kremsmünster (inv. no. 551);
art repository, Altaussee (no. 4808) and transfer to the Collecting Point Munich (no. 9584);
Transferred to the Prime Minister decided by Edgar Breitenbach (1903–1977), 10 June 1949;
ownership of the Federal Republic of Germany;
On loan to the Landesmuseum Hanover 1966–2019 (inv. no. DNM 812);
Restitution to the heirs after Louise Lea Abelmann in 2019

Catalogued and illustrated in:
Friedrich von Amerling. 1803-1887, ed. by Sabine Grabner, published on the occasion of the Friedrich von Amerling exhibition, 26 March - 22 June 2003, Österreichischen Galerie Belvedere Wien, Vienna 2003, pp. 102-103, ill. 87.
Günther Probszt, Friedrich von Amerling, Der Altmeister der Wiener Portraitmalerei, Zurich, Leipzig, Vienna 1927, p. 138, no. 733.

This elegant young gentleman wearing a top hat is the youngest brother of the painter Friedrich von Amerling. Andreas Amerling’s life reflects his diverse interests and talents: he first trained as a gilder before enrolling in the elementary drawing course at Vienna’s Academy from 1840 onwards. In addition, he is also said to have been extremely musical.
This portrait dates from 1843 and shows Andreas in a very fashionable outfit with an air of self-confidence. Especially the shoulders, executed in the ‘non finito’ technique, and the dramatic cloudy sky herald a certain spirit of departure and youthfulness, while giving the portrait a strong presence.
In the revolutionary year 1848, Andreas was first involved in the labour movement before deciding on a military career. After a few successful years, however, he stood down from active service and worked as a drawing teacher at the Cadet School in Krakow. He retired at a relatively early age due to health reasons, and spent the rest of his life in his villa in Vienna.