Lot 1564 Dα

France's declaration of war against Prussia on 19th July 1870 which preceded the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871 reached Prussia the same day and was publically proclaimed in the Düsseldorf Tonhalle. Ferdinand Brütt captured this scene in his work "Aus bewegter Zeit - In den Julitagen 1870" (fig. 1) in 1882, and the work was presented at the International Art Exhibition in Munich in 1883 and later acquired for the collection of the Kunstverein Barmen. The present whereabouts of the work are unknown (Bastek 2007, op. cit., p. 231, no. 1882.2).

Two studies for this painting have survived which depict the foyer of the old Tonhalle in Düsseldorf (Bastek 2007, op. cit., p. 231, no. 1882.2a-2b). However, the present study shows the main focus of the scene: A man standing on a table gesticulating as he reads the declaration, surrounded by an agitated group of ladies and gentlemen. Despite changes to the details, the final work largely follows the composition of this lively and spontaneous sketch.

We would like to thank Alexander Bastek in Lübeck for confirming the authenticity of this painting from high resolution photographs. He included the work in his 2007 catalogue raisonné as a supplement under the no. 1882.2c.