Eduard Hildebrandt (German, 1818-1869). "White Cliffs of Dover" oil on canvas, 1855. Signed and dated "E. Hildebrandt 1855" on lower left. A grand painting set in the White Cliffs of Dover on the English coastline by Eduard Hildebrandt. An astute observer of the natural world, Hildebrandt adeptly rendered the striking cliff faces, the sandy shore, the coastal sea waves, as well as soft clouds billowing in the sky of pink, lavender, and azure hues suggesting it is either dawn or dusk. A wonderful storyteller, Hildebrandt also alluded to several charming narratives with vignettes featuring seafaring folks as well as their children and pets. A touch of humor is also evident - notice the family in the foreground gathered around to watch an encounter between their puppy and a rather large crustacean. Size of painting: 29.5" L x 36" W (74.9 cm x 91.4 cm) Size of frame: 38" L x 44.25" W (96.5 cm x 112.4 cm)
These are working class folks, dressed casually with a laundry basket to the right. In the distance are fishermen lifting large nets out of the water. A mesmerizing composition in which Hildebrandt brings together his flair for landscape, marine, and genre painting.
Born in Danzig, Germany, Eduard Hildebrandt studied under Wilhelm Krause, a marine artist, and studied at the atelier of Isabey in Paris where he won a gold medal at the Paris Salon of 1843. In addition, from 1862 to 1864, Hildebrandt made an international trip, visiting the Middle East, India, Singapore, Siam, Macao, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan and the United States - and creating watercolors as he traveled. These compositions were made into chromolithographs and published around 1864 by R. Wagner in Berlin. The watercolors were exhibited in London in 1866 as well as at the Crystal Palace in 1868. Hildebrandt also exhibited in Brussels. More recently, his work was included in the Expedition Kunst. Die Entdeckung der Natur von C. D. Friedrich bis Humboldt (Expedition Art. The Discovery of Nature from CD Friedrich to Humboldt) at Hamburg Kunsthalle in 2002, an exhibition which demonstrated the links between the natural sciences and the painted landscape.
This piece has been searched against the Art Loss Register database and has been cleared. The Art Loss Register maintains the world’s largest database of stolen art, collectibles, and antiques.
Provenance: private Los Angeles, California, USA collection, 1980s-2000s
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#164640
Condition
Signed and dated "E. Hildebrandt 1855" on lower left. Charming areas of craquelure as shown. Professionally cleaned and varnished. About five old repairs to the canvas, visible on the verso but difficult to discern from the obverse. "Prepared by Charles S. Roberson 51 Long Acre London" is stamped on the verso of canvas. Verso of canvas has darkened with age. Frame shows with expected age wear particularly on the verso, with chips, perforations, and remains of gallery paper.