작품 상세

Fine original architectural painting, 16" x 24 ¼" (sight), a watercolor on artist's board by noted German landscape, industrial and urban painter ERICH MERCKER (1891-1973). The painting is entitled "Bruckenbau an der Alpenstrasse" (""Bridge Construction on the Alpine Road"), and depicts a half-completed viaduct-style stone bridge, with wood beams forming its upper preliminary arches, surrounded by cranes and with a small construction office at the base. Mercker executes his artist's signature at bottom right, adding his place of residence "Mchen.", or Munich. The painting is matted in pale green and mounted in a gilt wood frame. The backing board of the frame bears numerous labels and markings giving an idea of the convoluted history of this particular work of art. A paper label is affixed at bottom left, indicating that the painting was intended to be displayed in the 1939 "Grosse Deutsche Kunstausstellung" ("Great German Art Exhibition") at the "Haus der Deutsche Kunst" ("House of German Art") in Munich. A second paper label at upper right gives the artist's name and the title of the piece, with a purchase price of 180 Reichsmarks, and further indicates that it was placed into the inventory of the "Dienstgebaude Reichskanzlei Berchtesgaden" ("Service Building Reich Chancellery Berchtesgaden"), commonly known as the "Little Reichs Chancellery", Hitler's second seat of government located on the Obersalzburg. Beneath this label appear the stamped letters "R K", most likely for "Reichskanzlei", above a national eagle and swastika. A manila tag attached by red and white cord to the metal hanging loop gives the "Anschrift fur die Rucksending" ("return address") of Dr. WILLY MEERWALD (1888-1960), "Ministerialdirektor" ("Assistant Secretary") of the "Reichskanzlei", who among other duties was responsible for the acquisition and maintenance of Chancellery property. This tag also lists the painting as being displayed at "Stangass/Reichskanzlei Dienststelle Berchtesgaden", giving the name of the small village adjacent to Berchtesgaden where the "Little Reichs Chancellery" was properly located. This painting is not listed the catalog for the 1939 Great German Art Exhibition, among other works submitted by Mercker. This most likely indicates that the painting was purchased prior to the opening of the exhibition and the printing of its catalog, either by Meerwald or his direct superior at the time, Chief of the Reichs Chancellery Hans Lammers. Such pre-exhibition sales were not mentioned in the records of the Great German Art Exhibition. The backing board is further stamped "HQ" and "USAREUR" ("United States Army Europe"); immediately following the fall of the Third Reich in 1945, the "Little Reichs Chancellery" was taken over by the U.S. Army under the direction of General Omar Bradley, along with its inventory. It was utilized as a headquarters of the U.S. Armed Forces Recreation Centers in Germany from that time until 1996, when it was returned to the Bavarian government. According to information provided by our consignor, at some point prior to this handover, the building's inventory was transferred into German governmental storage. While being moved by private contractors the frame's glass was broken, damaging the mat and an approx. 1 1/2" square irregular patch at the upper right corner of the painting. The glass and mat have been replaced, and the professional restoration work performed on painting remains visible. The painting is accompanied by a typed informational statement from our consignor in both English and German, as well as historical photos of the "Little Reichs Chancellery", Willy Meerwald and Hans Lammers, as well as photocopies of two war-date documents related to Meerwald.