Lot 2333 Dα

Our drawing, dated 1817, was made during Erhard's stay of just under three years in Austria. In 1816, the young draughtsman had set off for Vienna with Johann Adam Klein. In the year in which this drawing was made, a hike with artist friends, including Heinrich and Gustav Reinhold, to the Schneeberg region in Upper Austria is known to have taken place.
In 1819 Erhard set off for Rome, where the Reinhold brothers were already staying, as were Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, Joseph Anton Koch and Franz Horny, with whom he was on friendly terms. At the age of 27 he took his own life in Rome.
Erhard's tragic fate as an artist probably attracted more attention among his contemporaries than his artistic significance. It was only in the course of the 20th century that people began to realise that he was one of the best German draughtsmen of his time.