Wilhelm Christens: Düsseldorf Sunflowers and Bachante

Wilhelm Christens 

(1878-1964) 

Wilhelm Christens was a Dusseldorf academically trained and based painter and printmaker. He is known for his landscapes, portraits and still-life painting, was an etcher and lithographer and worked as art restorer. I'd never heard of him until last week when this large "Farbholzschnitt" showed up. 

Created in the classic way, nice composition, fresh, modern and using a wonderful colour palette. Although not dated it was probably created around 1950-60 so at the end of his long artistic life, like the 1963 painting (above). Why did he try at woodblock printmaking so late in life, or did I miss something? 

I found several of his "classic" elaborate flower stillifes in auctions passed, this academic 1909 nude and Schloss Benrath a well known castle and gardens in his Düsseldorf.

There is a mentioning Christens himself considered a work (a painting ?) titled "Bachantin" and dated 1906 his best, his Opus Magnus. I could not find a painting fitting its description but I did find this portrait with grapes and vines   (probably by the not so educated guessing auctioneer) "Pomona", but: no apples . 

The subject obviously is not Pomona, the Roman goddess of Abundance, flowering orchard and orchard fruits, but a Bachante. Pomona is usually depicted holding an apple not grapes: L: Pomum = Orchard, orchard fruits  (Fr. Pomme = Apple). 

< Aristide Maillol's "Pomona" at the Louvre in Paris 

Bachante or Menaeds (German "Bachantin") however were companions, nymphs, servants to the Greek God of wine Dionysos. His Roman alter ego is known as: Bacchus.

Perhaps Friedrich von Kaulbachs (1850-1920) 1897 "Bachantin" was Wilhelms inspiration. Kaulbach was an important portrait painter who tried all his life to match his great example Hans Holbein the Younger (1497/98 - 1543) 400 years earlier. Although Holbein is not known to have drawn a nymphs portrait. 

Many artists painted a, or several Bachante but I think I like Lovis Corinth  happy version best. 

And although I do not think Swiss Frank Behrens (1883 - 1945) meant showing Pomona there is of course a nice reason why he was chosen to witness these lovely creatures in the apple  and chestnut trees. Helas, no matter how hard I try ...... 

A nice co-incidence is Behrens obviously painted Bachante.....Perhaps even portrayed his wife Nanny, who died in 1925 and was well known breeder of Swiss Berner-Sennen dogs. But that is an altogether other story.

All pictures borrowed freely from the Internet for friendly, educational and non commercial use only.