Alfred Schönian, ON THE FIELD. TURKEY, ROOSTER AND HENS

17,8 x 23,8cm - oil, board

Signed l.d.: A. Schönian. | München

On the reverse along the l. edge (in black crayon): 24 x 18 | 20; in addition, auction sticker Agra-Art, 2010.

Alfred Schönian (Frankfurt/Oder 1856 - Munich after 1936) - German landscape and animalist; began his artistic studies at the Leipzig Academy under the sculptor Melchior Anton. From 1877 he studied at the Academy in Munich under Gyula Benczur and Johann Leonhard Raab. After his studies, he remained permanently in Munich. He painted landscapes (including Views of the Chiemsee, Country Road), still lifes, genre scenes, few portraits, as well as fairy tale motifs with gnomes, dwarves (Gnome and Frog). However, he was best known for his animalistic compositions (Cows by the Water, Cats in the Stables, Horses), including especially paintings with domestic fowl; peacocks, turkeys, ducks, hens depicted against a landscape background of either a rural backyard or a palace park or courtyard (Rooster Fight, Peacocks in the Park, Ducks and Hens, etc.). These works were more widely popularized by color postcards. The artist also worked as an illustrator