The Watzmann
August Schäffer von Wienerwald (1833 - 1916)
Schäffer’s "Watzmann" shows the Alpine view extremely popular in the first half of the 19th century. Even artists who had never seen the mountain for themselves used prints made by other artists for their paintings. One of those was Caspar David Friedrich (1774–1840), who painted his "Watzmann" (1824/25, Alte Nationalgalerie Berlin, inv. no. A II 895, NG H 4) after a watercolour by his pupil August Heinrich (1794–1822).
Patches of snow lie on the rocky formation of the small and the large Watzmann. Unlike the lower part, over two-thirds of the work are painted in oils. It is not known why the painting remained unfinished. An estate stamp on the back indicates that it may have been used for inspiration or as a memento of study trips in the Austrian Alps.
Ducke Astrid: August Schäffer, The Watzmann. In: Ducke Astrid, Habersatter Thomas (Hg.): Stadt - Land - Berg. Salzburg und seine Umgebung. Town - Landscape - Mountain. Salzburg and surroundings. Residenzgalerie Salzburg. Salzburg 2022, p. 112, illus. p. 113