Die zwei Mädchen am Brunnen
Two Girls at the Well
Kunstpalast - LVR-ZMB - Joshua Esters - ARTOTHEK

Two Girls at the Well, 1833

Künstlerische LeitungEduard Bendemann, Berlin 1811–1889 Düsseldorf
Oil on canvas
Dimensions without frame131 × 185 cm
Dimensions with frame159,5 × 211 cm
Place of originBerlin
Status
not on display
About the workCritics described the Düsseldorf paintings of the nineteenth century that focused on emotions as “Seelenmalerei” (soul painting). In this picture, Eduard Bendemann depicts two young women in clear contrast: one faces outwards in front of a southern landscape, while the other is withdrawn in the shade of a bush. They were interpreted as symbols of Italy and Germany, for instance, or as Jewish and Christian because of the Star of David on the headdress of the one on the left. The fact that the motif was not based on a historical or literary subject was unusual for this time period.
AccessionGift 1981
Provenance1833 entstanden für eine Verlosungs-Ausstellung des Kunst-Vereins für die Rheinlande und Westphalen; 17.8.1833 Frau Moll, Köln, erworben durch Losverfahren; März 1867 Auktion bei Louis Sachse, Berlin, unverkauft; [...]; o.D. Wilhelmine Grillo, geb. von Born (31.10.1828 - 10.4.1904), Essen; um 1904 Mimi Ficker, geb. von Born (3.11.1866 - 18.6.1950) erworben im Erbgang von ihrer Tante W. Grillo; 1950-1981 Felicitas Medicus, Wiesbaden, erworben im Erbgang von ihrer Mutter M. Ficker; 1974 erhalten als Dauerleihgabe; 1981 erworben durch Schenkung von Frau Felicitas Medicus, Wiesbaden
Inventory numberM 1981-1
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