(Salzburg 1840–1884 Vienna) The interior of the collegiate church Nonnberg in Salzburg, signed and dated Johan Makart 1857, pencil and white bodycolour, on paper, 26,2 x 18,8 cm, mounted, unframed, (Sch)

We are grateful to Dr. Gerbert Frodl for the confirmation of the attribution and the scientific support.

See the cetificate by Dr. Gerbert Frodl, February 2015.

The drawing on firm paper represents the interior of the church of Nonnberg monastery in Salzburg. The artist did not focus on the main altar of the dignified church, but on the portico with its richly ornamented late Gothic arcaded vaults.The drawing is signed “Johan(n) Makart / 1.8.5.7.” at the lower right and is thus a work of the young artist (1840–1884) who later became widely famous. The wording of his signature seems unusual, as the artist normally signed with „Hans“ or „H“ Makart, although his real Christian name was „Johann Apollonius“. There are several sheets from 1858 in the Salzburg Museum, which bear the first name „Joh. Makart“ as it appears on the present sheet. The very detailed description of the architecture and of the complicated details of the Gothic decoration or of the latticework with its devoured ornament are very significant characteristics of the present sheet. Moreover, the drawing is particularly charming because of its rendition of light. The bright sunlight is flowing into the church interior through the entrance gate which is directed towards south. It offers a view of the outside world. The young 17 year old artist succeeded in capturing an atmospheric mood of the church interior and the light condition reigning in it. Several small oil studies (e.g. in the Belvedere) from this time of his creative phase prove Makart‘s expressive interest in the almost palpable rendition of the light. Before his formation in Munich in 1860 Makart was mainly occupied with motifs from Salzburg town. Even in his drawings (e.g. Salzburg Museum, Albertina) Makart rendered archtiectural and artistic motifs with utmost care and meticulousness. He developed a special predilection for the area of the fortress, to which Nonnberg monastery belongs. The present sheet with a view of the interior on Nonnberg holds an excellent position in the artist’s early work.