Michael Neher, A Fish Market in Rome

Lot description

Ref19C121121 Monogrammed and dated lower right: MN (conjoined) 1829 Certificate Günther Meier, Oberding 29.9.2021. The painting depicting the fish market in Rome was created by Michael Neher in 1829. It has been kept in a German private collection for three generations and has been unknown to the public and to art historical research; it can thus be described as a great new discovery. The fish market in Rome together with Octavian's arches was depicted by Michael Neher twice in 1829. The other version, 56.6 x 48.7 cm, was exhibited at the Munich Kunstverein in 1829 and acquired by Elector Wilhelm II of Hesse-Kassel. It is until today in the possession of the Hessische Hausstiftung and displayed at the Museum Schloss Fasanerie. The composition and the depiction of the architecture of both versions are almost identical, with only minor differences in the figural staffage. The painting is both an architectural veduta and a genre painting. The background of the multi-figured folk scene is the "Portico di Ottavia" on the left bank of the River Tiber near the Marcellus Theatre in Rome, an ancient building where a fish market was held since ancient times. Accordingly, the name of the church, built in 770 between the ruins of the portico that form the small atrium depicted, is "S. Angelo in Pescheria". Michael Neher based the design of the painting on a drawing he had made a few years earlier in Rome around 1825. We thank Günther Meier (Archiv über Michael Neher, Oberding) for his support in cataloguing this painting. The work will be included in his catalogue raisonné on Michael Neher which is currently being prepared.