KOLLER VIEW 01/24

5 pre view. 02 The legend of St George killing the dragon to free Princess Cleodolinda was a frequently depicted subject in Renais- sance painting. The work by the German painter Johann König (ill. 2) in our 22 March auction is a masterful addition to depictions of the dragon slayer, illustrating the timeless concept of the triumph of good over evil. The legend was first recorded in the mid-13 th century by the Dominican archbishop Jacobus de Voragine. This depiction typically shows the dramatic moment of the lance thrust, and König composes the scene powerfully and vividly: seated on a charging grey horse, the saint attacks with muscles tense and the thrusting weapon under his arm, forming a coun- terpoint to the terrifying dragon. The painting was proba- bly created in Rome, where the artist lived between 1610 and 1614. König’s very finely executed paintings on copper caused a sensation during his lifetime. The panel offered here is characterised by a fantastic attention to detail. The vibrant colours of the painting have been admirably pre- served over the four hundred years since it was created. ‘The fainting spell’ from 1680 is one of the most famous works by the Dutch artist Eglon van der Neer (ill. 1). Its first known owner was Elector Johann Wilhelm von der Pfalz, one of the greatest collectors of his time. The interior scene, which shows a wealthy lady in a moment of indis- position, served as a so-called ‘conversation piece’ for the entertainment of educated citizens and aristocrats at the time. The fainting lady has just undergone bloodletting, as indicated by the bowl of blood in the foreground. The fasteners of her corset have been loosened so that she can breathe more freely. Compositionally, the subject refers to a work created around 13 years earlier by the Leiden master Frans van Mieris, which is now in the Getty Museum in Los Angeles. Born in Amsterdam as the son of the famous landscape painter Aert van der Neer, Eglon van der Neer received his artistic training from the well-known Amsterdam figure painter Jacob van Loo. While working in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, he specialised in genre and portrait paint- ing. Late in his career, van der Neer was court painter in Brussels to the Spanish king Charles II, and later court painter to Elector Johann Wilhelm von der Pfalz in Düsseldorf, where he also concentrated on mythological and biblical depictions. 1 D etail: Eglon Hendrik van der Neer (circa 1635–1703). The fainting spell. 1680. Oil on panel. 52 × 42.6 cm. Estimate: CHF 350 000/450 000 2 Of strengths and weaknesses Preview of the Old Master Paintings auction on 22 March 2024 2 J ohann König (1586–1632). St George and the dragon. Oil on copper. 14,7 × 21.2 cm. Estimate: CHF 300 000/500 000 For further information Old Master Paintings KarolineWeser weser@kollerauctions.com Online catalogues www.kollerauctions.com