(Untermieger 1824–1871 St. Ruprecht near Klagenfurt)
A view of Triglav and Mittagskogel,
oil on canvas, 42.5 x 53 cm, framed, (W)

Marcus Pernhart was born in Carinthia and focused his main attention on the depiction of landscapes. He varied from seascapes and mountain landscapes to winter scenes, as well as to views of towns and castles, staying true to his characteristic style over the course of many years. The colouring and representational style of his works remain largely unchanged and uninfluenced by contemporary trends. In his chosen clear colour palette and in the structured composition of his images, we may detect the influence of both his teacher, Eduard von Moro, and von Moro’s teacher, Franz von Steinfeld. The depiction of mountains, above all, gains a particular significance in Pernhart’s œuvre: multiple mountain tours focused his eye for the portrayal of rock and glacial formations. He climbed the Grossglockner alone a good ten times. There are two elements to be found in the depiction of mountains in Pernhart’s work. These are their sublime, as well as their prosaic, aspects.
The present work shows the Triglav and Kepa mountains, the first of which Pernhart portrayed on many occasions. The recognisability of the mountain he depicts is particularly precise and formulates a sense of identity for the viewer. The colour palette clearly distinguishes the shades of the fore-, middle-, and background from one another. The people depicted in the painting appear almost incidental, with the mountain remaining the dominating element.