Koller View 2/21

20 Eugène Louis Boudin The tranquil Touques River meanders through the Norman Pays d’Auge, much as it does through the work of Boudin, a native of Honfleur. Since the artist owned a home in the seaside resort of Deauville, he had many opportunities to paint by the sea and in the surrounding countryside. This river motif, which he varied several times, exemplifies his mastery of deli- cate colours, harmonious shading and skill at captur- ing reflections on the leisurely flowing water. La Touques à Saint-Arnoult. 1893. Oil on canvas. 54.1 × 74.2 cm. Sold for CHF 104 000 Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller The young women in Waldmüller’s painting share a sweet secret: in the glow of a candle, they hold a love letter in their hands. While the paper shields the bright flame, the two figures are bathed in warm light. The artist succeeds in involving the observer in the scene through his highly naturalistic depiction and by skilfully directing the viewer’s gaze. The Austrian Waldmüller acquired these expressive possibilities through his decades-long studies of the old masters. The Love Letter. 1848. Oil on canvas. 78 × 64.5 cm. Sold for CHF 232 000 An outing on the Prater. 1833. Oil on panel. 31 × 25.5 cm. Sold for CHF 73 000 Arnold Böcklin Portraits by Böcklin often show people engaged in in- trospection, as in this religious image of the penitent Mary Magdalene. This is a late work of the Basel-born artist, who was highly regarded throughout Europe; his 70th birthday in 1897 was celebrated with nume- rous exhibitions. Penitent Mary Magdalene. 1895. Tempera on board. 36.6 × 36.6 cm. Sold for CHF 100 000 Konstantin Ivanovich Gorbatov Gorbatov’s veduta depicts the paradisiacal island of Capri, in the bright, shim- mering light of the south. In the tradition of the Impressionists, he relied on a contrasting palette of pastel tones. This painting, typical of this Russian artist who emigrated to Italy, had been absent from the art market for 70 years pre- vious to the March auction. View of Capri. Oil on canvas. 50.3 × 60.4 cm. Sold for CHF 134 000