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Holy Family, 1907/08

Leopold Museum,
Vienna
Oil, tempera on wood
59.5×59 cm

Artists

  • Rudolf Kalvach

    (Vienna 1883–1932 Kosmonosy)

Currently on display at OG3
In contrast to his numerous graphic works, Rudolf Kalvach’s (1883–1932) painterly oeuvre comprises only about a dozen works. The painting Holy Family was created in 1907/08 and shows Joseph, Mary and the Baby Jesus, surrounded by the Three Kings and staffage figures. Characteristic elements of Kalvach’s compositions are the emphasized outlines, the figures stacked one on top of the other and their exaggerated limbs. This stylizing simplification of motifs is a distinct feature of Kalvach’s art and was one of the sources of inspiration for the design vocabulary of Oskar Kokoschka (1886-1980). Kalvach’s artistic work played an important pioneering role in the emerging Expressionism movement. From 1912 onwards, the artist was repeatedly admitted to psychiatric institutions due to his schizophrenia, first in Steinhof in Vienna and later in Kosmonosy in the Czech Republic.

AS, 2021

Object data

Artist/author
  • Rudolf Kalvach
Title
Holy Family
Date
1907/08
Art movement
Art Nouveau, Expressionism
Category
Painting
Material​/technique
Oil, tempera on wood
Dimensions
59.5×59 cm
Signature
Monogrammed lower right: RK
Credit line
Leopold Museum, Vienna, Inv. 6136
Inventory access
Accession 2018
Selection of Reference works
  • Max Oppenheimer. Expressionist der ersten Stunde, hrsg. von Hans-Peter Wipplinger, Wien 2023 (Ausst.-Kat. Leopold Museum, Wien, 06.10.2023 –25.02.2024).
  • Fantastisch! Rudolf Kalvach. Wien und Triest um 1900, hrsg. von Tobias G. Natter/Roberto Festi, Cinisello Balsamo 2012 (Ausst. Kat. Leopold Museum, Wien, 07.06.2012–10.09.2012).
Keywords
group of peoplereligionVirgin Maryriding: horse/donkey/muleherding livestocksheepcamelking*queenChrist: child/youthEpiphanyelephant

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Provenance

Provenance research
Leopold Museum i

Magda Grasmayr, Salzburg (bis 1944);
Nachlass nach Magda Grasmayr, Salzburg (1945); (1)
Dr. Klaus Grasmayr, Salzburg (ab 1945); (2)
Galerie bei der Albertina Zetter, Wien (o.D.); (3)
Leopold Museum-Privatstiftung, Wien (seit 2018)

  1. Archiv des Leopold Museums, Datenblatt der Galerie bei der Albertina - Zetter zu R. Kalvach, Anbetung der Hirten und Ankunft der hl. drei Könige, 1907/08 vom 05.10.2018
  2. Michael Wladika, Dossier „LM Inv. Nr. „1343, 1347, 1348, 1349“ vom 31.01.2018, S. 19.
  3. Archiv des Leopold Museums, Rechnung Nr. 109 vom 04.10.2018

For provenance related information, please contact us.

Search in collection

group of peoplereligionVirgin Maryriding: horse/donkey/muleherding livestocksheepcamelking*queenChrist: child/youthEpiphanyelephant