(Grafenwörth 1718–1801 Stein/Donau)
An old man grinding a saw leaf,
oil on canvas, 71 x 57.5 cm, framed

Provenance:
410th Sale, Dorotheum, Vienna, 31 October 1931, lot 447;
Private collection, Vienna

Literature:
F. Dworschak, R. Feuchtmüller, K. Garzarolli-Thurnlack, J. Zykan, Der Maler Martin Johann Schmidt, genannt der Kremser Schmidt, Vienna, 1955, p. 170, fig. 104;
R. Feuchtmüller, Der Kremser Schmidt, Innsbruck/Vienna, 1989, pp. 138 and 466, no. 596

Kremser Schmidt dealt not only with religious subjects, but also conceived highly charming genre scenes. He painted such pictures from about 1775 onwards, inspired by the popular ideal of a ‘taste à la Rembrandt’ (and also influenced by Rembrandt’s etchings).

Rupert Feuchtmüller writes about the present painting: ‘The old grinder wearing a bicorne seems to have seen better days. He uses a pince-nez so that he can see well while he performs his work. One also learns how a saw is fixed and how its teeth are sharpened. Different types of saws – jigsaws and pad saws – as well as pincers and other tools lie about; a little dog grumpily nibbles at its fur in order to chase away annoying bugs.’ Feuchtmüller points out that Kremser Schmidt’s genre scenes were so popular among contemporary collectors that he occasionally had to repeat them.