Bruno Liljefors
For condition report contact specialist
Flying seagulls (Larus canus)
On verso estate stamp. Panel 32.7 x 41.1 cm. Verso with estate stamp "Tillhör Konstnären Bruno Liljefors' efterlämnade arbeten. UPLANDS ENSKILDA BANK AB Notarieavdelningen Hagströmer”, number ”425".
Provenance
The artist's family until 2022.
Private collection.
More information
Liljefors har utfört tre snarlika studier av fiskmåsar i samma storlek avtecknade mot en gråmulen himmel, vilka samtliga ingick i hans kvarlåtenskap; förutom den aktuella målningen, en oljemålning såld på Stockholm Auktionsverk, 11 oktober 2016, nr. 420224 (såld för 21840 Sek (se referensbild) samt en målning såld på Stockholms Auktionsverk 3 januari 2021, nr. 861247 (såld för 53550 Sek) (se referensbild).
Målningarna, vilka samtliga är utförda omkring 1907, utgör en fascinerande inblick i Liljefors arbetsmetod. Liljefors har noggrant studerat de flygande fiskmåsarnas vingpositioner; framifrån, underifrån och från sidan. Genom att i samtliga fall avteckna dem mot en gråmulen himmel, hamnar fokus på fiskmåsarnas vingpositioner, samtidigt som det skapar ett samband mellan de tre målningarna.
Artist
Bruno Liljefors is the Swedish artist best known for his nature and animal motifs, especially in dramatic situations. Liljefors started with studies at the Academy of Arts in 1879, and continued 1882 in Düsseldorf where the studies revolved around animal painting. The journey then continued to Venice, Rome, Naples, Paris and Grez. Once back in Sweden, he began to draw and paint animals, especially cats and small birds, from the beginning in intimate interaction with nature. He then moved on to broader depictions of wild animals and nature, of seascapes with seabirds and of dramatic scenes of battles between birds. Liljefors is known as our country's foremost animal painter with a large production. Liljefors depicted, in contrast to the "idyllic" animal painting, the animals everyday life with a focus on movement, anatomy and their adaptation to the landscape. This is where the greatness of his painting lies, in the ability to show the animals in their proper environment. He has achieved this by hunting and observing. Well-known works of art are the paintings "Rävfamilj" (1886) and "Havsörnar" (1897), as well as the sculpture "Lek" (1930) at Stockholm Stadium. Liljefors is mainly represented at the National Museum, Waldemarsudde and the Thielska gallery in Stockholm.
Read more