Artwork
August Schaeffer
August Schaeffer is an oil painting by Wilhelm Vita. It dates from 1916 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Overview
Wilhelm Vita’s 1916 oil painting presents a solitary portrait of an elderly gentleman. The figure occupies the central space, set against an unadorned dark backdrop that isolates him from any surrounding context. The work is part of the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is rendered with a long white beard and moustache, dressed in a dark suit with a contrasting white collar. His expression is composed yet slightly furrowed, suggesting a dignified, perhaps contemplative, demeanor. The focus on facial features and attire emphasizes personal identity over narrative.
Technique & Style
Vita employs soft, blended brushstrokes to model the play of light across the face, particularly highlighting the beard and forehead. The chiaroscuro effect—strong contrasts between illuminated areas and deep shadows—creates a three‑dimensional presence within the flat plane of the canvas.
History & Provenance
Created in the final year of World War I, the painting entered the holdings of Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it remains on display. No further ownership changes are recorded in the museum’s acquisition records.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Self Portrait
Portret van J.A.B. Stroebel (1821-1905), kunstschilder
Portretul lui Kossuth Lajos
Professor Franciscus Donders (1818-89), Physiologist and Opthalmologist
Portrait of Teodor Rygier, sculptor
Portretul lui Kossuth Lajos
Jan Verhaert, the Artist's Father
Cyrus W. Field
Kossuth Lajos
Portrait of the writer Y.F. Samarin
Portrait of Frederik Daniël Otto Obreen (1840-96), director Rijksmuseum
Dr. Thaddäus Vita