Artwork
The young boy with the stable-lantern
The young boy with the stable-lantern is an unspecified painting by the Biedermeier artist Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller. It dates from 1824 and is held in the collection of the Hamburger Kunsthalle.
About this work
Overview
The Young Stableboy with a Stable Lamp, painted by Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller in 1824, is a portrait of a contemplative youth. Held in the Hamburger Kunsthalle, the work captures a serene moment of a boy absorbed in thought beside a lantern.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, a young boy with dark hair dressed in a simple white shirt, is portrayed in a state of quiet introspection. The lantern, glowing warmly on a table before him, illuminates his face, symbolizing comfort and inner reflection.
Technique & Style
Waldmüller employs a warm, muted color palette to evoke a sense of coziness. The play of light from the lantern, casting a gentle glow on the boy's face, demonstrates the artist's skill in capturing soft, natural illumination.
History & Provenance
Created in 1824, the painting is part of the collection at the Hamburger Kunsthalle, though specific details of its acquisition or earlier ownership are not provided here.
Context
While the broader cultural or thematic context of the piece is not explicitly detailed, it reflects early 19th-century interests in everyday life and the emotional depth of ordinary subjects.
Legacy
The painting's legacy is intertwined with Waldmüller's overall contribution to 19th-century European art, particularly in portraying the simplicity and depth of common life scenes.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller (Austrian German: ; 15 January 1793 – 23 August 1865) was an Austrian painter. Waldmüller was one of the most important Austrian painters of the Biedermeier period.
A Man Holding a Lantern in a Window
Boy lighting a candle from a wick
Young Woman Holding a Lamp
Young Woman with a Lantern in a Window
A Boy Blowing on a Firebrand
Girl with a Candle
Old Woman with a Basket of Coal
Young man by candle light
Girl with a Candle
Concert
A Young Woman engaged at the Supper-table
Junge Frau mit brennender Kerze