Artwork
Maiorul von Kokh

Maiorul von Kokh is an unspecified painting by the Byzantine icon painting artist Franz Anton Bergmann. It is held in the collection of the Brukenthal National Museum.
About this work
Overview
The work titled *Maiorul von Kokh* depicts a solitary male figure dressed in a plain white shirt with dark buttons, set against a deep green backdrop. The composition is restrained, focusing on the sitter’s upright posture and the contrast between illuminated facial features and the surrounding darkness.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait presents an individual whose identity remains uncertain; the title suggests a rank or name, yet no historical records confirm who Maiorul von Kokh might have been. The emphasis on the high, stiff collar and the solemn expression invites speculation about status, formality, or a ceremonial role.
Technique & Style
Visible brushwork characterizes the rendering of the face and shirt, lending a textured, slightly impasto quality to the surface. Light falls sharply on the sitter’s visage, while the green background recedes into shadow, employing a chiaroscuro approach that heightens three‑dimensionality without elaborate detail.
History & Provenance
Beyond the title, the painting’s origins, date of creation, and ownership trail are not documented in the available material. Consequently, its placement within an artist’s oeuvre or a specific artistic movement cannot be definitively established.
Artist & collection
Artist
Franz Anton Bergmann painted small-scale portraits in oil and print during the late 1700s.















