Joseph Brunner, Austrian Landscape with Lake and Mountain Painting, 1869, Oil on Canvas, Framed

This very fine quality 19th-century oil on canvas in dark brown wood frame with gold leaf details throughout is signed by Joseph Brunner (Vienna 1826–1893) and was painted in 1869. This oil painting bucolic landscape depicts the Attersee, a lake in Austria surrounded by the mountains and pristine nature. The peaceful overall impression, shaped by the lake’s play of light meandering between turquoise and matte pale blue, is perfectly emphasized by trees’ various green tones. The white, gray, and light brown rocky mountains embrace the lake, while the light blue cloudy sky enhances the feeling of tranquillity. In the quiet lake, at the center of the painting, a father is fishing on a boat while his little daughter watches him. This serene scene, surrounded by this beautiful natural environment, reflects calm and contemplativeness. Brunner presents an extremely detailed view of the lake, starting from the water in the foreground and the dark brown rocks covered with moss and small red flowers, to the leaves on the pine trees painted with small, deft brushstrokes. In the background, at the right of the painting, a small village can also be seen. The artist masterfully captures the luxurious character of the entire landscape, celebrating the nuances of atmosphere, weather, and light, reminiscent of Barbizon school realism. The painting is signed and dated "Jos. Brunner 1869" at the bottom right corner. On the back of the frame, the artist handwrote an inscription in German detailing the location: "Der Attersee mit den Schafberg, der Drachenstein-Wond und den Dorfe Unter-Ach." An additional Italian inscription at the bottom left verso reads: "In memoria del 31 Gennaio 1867 giorno di nascita dell’Achille." This seems to indicate the painting commemorates the birth of Achille on January 31st, 1867. These unusual handwritten notes contribute to the extraordinary nature of this painting, making it rare and precious. The piece is in very good condition, with an attractive original patina and interesting craquelure in some areas. It comes in a newly framed dark brown wood frame with gold leaf details. Dimensions: Framed width 110 cm, height 77 cm, depth 5 cm.