Two musicians, oil on canvas, 82 x 68.5 cm, framed

Provenance:
Private collection, Munich.

Literature:
J. Zimmer, Joseph Heintz der Ältere als Maler, Weißenhorn 1971, p. 150, no. D 11, under “Lost paintings” (Two Musicians, inventory Vienna 1610–19 no. 67: “Ein pfeifer und geigerin von Joseph Hainzen. Später nirgends nachzuweisen...” [A flutist and a violinist by Joseph Hainzen. Unknown whereabouts…]).

This painting is accompanied by a certificate by Prof. Thomas DaCosta Kaufmann on the basis of a high resolution photograph.

The exhibition catalogue Eros und Mythos – Kunst am Hof Rudolfs II. (KHM, Vienna, 1995), summarizes Joseph Heintz’s life as follows: “Born in Basel in 1564 the son of an architect, died in Prague in 1609. In his youth heavily influenced by Holbein. Between 1584 and 1589 in Italy (Venice, Florence, Rome). Mostly drew copies from antiquity and Renaissance masters. Karel van Mander said about him: ‘as good as a student of’ Hans von Aachen. In 1591 entered into the service of the prince elector of Saxony, at the same time ‘chamber painter’ to Emperor Rudolf II. In 1592 travelled to Italy under imperial orders to copy antiquities and famous paintings and buy works of art. In 1594 returned to Prague. In 1596–98 travelled to Germany and Switzerland. Several stays in Augsburg; around 1600 back in Prague, where his name was added to the list of members of the imperial household. Ennobled in 1602. In the service of the Wittelsbach family as an architectural expert, active as a consultant in Augsburg and Neuburg an der Donau. In 1603/4 in Graz as a court portraitist. Between 1604 and 1609 stays in Prague alternated with travels under imperial orders to Innsbruck and Augsburg. Besides Hans von Aachen and Holbein, Correggio, Veronese, and above all Federico Barocci had a bearing on Joseph Heintz’s elegant, supple style…”