King Ludwig I of Bavaria with his Family, jointly examining the painting "Entry of King Otto of Greece into Napflio" by Peter von Hess, 1835, oil on canvas, 130 x 103 cm, framed, damage to edges, (Rei)

The present lot portrays the Bavarian royal family examining a painting depicting the entry of King Otto of Greece into Napflio which was executed around 1835 by Peter von Hess. In the centre stands King Ludwig l of Bavaria, looking with interest at the painting. At his side stands Crown Prince Maximilian in uniform, as well as the later Prince Regent Luitpold. His wife, Queen Therese, sits in front of him with Princess Alexandra at her side. Princess Mathilde Karoline is seated in an armchair on the right. This lot is a work by a 19th century painter after a lithograph by Gottlieb Bodmer (1804-1837), itself based on a painting by Heinrich Maria Dietrich Monten (1799-1843).

The royal family is looking with great interest at the painting by Peter von Hess which King Ludwig I purchased from the artist in 1835, and which is currently held by the Bavarian State Painting Collections – Neue Pinothek Munich (inv.no. WAF 352). It shows the landing and ceremonial entrance of King Otto, second son of Ludwig I, into the former Greek capital Napflio. In late 1832 he set off for Greece, and his arrival was recorded by the Munich historical painter. Peter von Hess accompanied Otto of Bavaria to Greece in 1832/33 and was commissioned by the King to execute the painting. The young Prince was accepted as king of the new British state by the major European powers, and was seen as a bright hope the new Kingdom which was established after victory in the war of independence against the Ottoman Empire. The reign of Ludwig I’s son ended in 1862 when he was deposed following the Greek population’s insistence on greater parliamentary co-determination.
The painting which is only partially visible depicts this important event in Bavarian history; the present lot underscores the attention being paid to this painting by the royal family. The lithographer Gottlieb Bodmer secured the exclusive printing rights to this 1835 portrayal from King Ludwig I, prohibiting reprints for a period of five years. This proves the popularity of this motif which, once the printing rights had expired, was extensively reproduced. Here the Bavarian royal family is shown in an informal setting, in the medium of an oil painting rather than a print. The painter of this work has altered the number of people in his reproduction, with individual persons being exchanged or left out. It mirrors the true importance of this event: the handover of Peter von Hess’s painting to the Royal family.