Wilhem Carl Friedrich Trautschold (1815-1877) - Ritratto di Leo Von Elliot

Oil on canvas. Dimensions with frame cm 70x61.

Wilhelm Carl Friedrich Trautschold (1815–1877)

This extraordinary painterly work by Wilhelm Carl Friedrich Trautschold, one of the most refined German portraitists of the 19th century. The extremely high technical quality, compositional balance, and the psychological strength of the subject are typical elements of Trautschold's early work, an artist trained between Berlin and London, known for the introspective depth of his portraits.

The painting depicts a young man wrapped in a fur cloak and covered with a cap, with his gaze fixed on the observer. It is a skillfully orchestrated composition: the face is immersed in warm light that gently models its volumes, while the dark, neutral background highlights its presence. The treatment of the face is of the highest quality: the vivid, deep eyes, rich in reflections, manage to convey an intense inner presence. The complexion is crafted with refined tonal transitions, between pink, amber, and brown, in a controlled and vibrant color palette. The lips are modeled with extreme naturalness, without rigidity, while the beard and hair display a masterful use of the brush, with loose yet precise strokes that impart movement and three-dimensionality.

Also remarkable is the treatment of the fur, which shows deep luminous variations and a free yet controlled brushwork. The white collar stands out with a few confident brushstrokes that demonstrate a gestural confidence typical of great masters. All these elements—attention to psychology, control of light, realistic yet lyrical rendering—clearly point to the hand of Trautschold.

The subject of the painting is Nicolaus Leo von Elliot (1816–1890), a German painter, draftsman, and lithographer active in the first half of the 19th century. Born in London but moving with his family to Darmstadt in 1822, Leo von Elliot studied art at the local drawing school of the Darmstadt Gallery, beginning to stand out at a very young age in the German cultural scene.

The connection between Leo von Elliot and Wilhelm Carl Friedrich Trautschold (1815–1877) appears historically and geographically plausible: both were born a year apart, and they trained and operated within the same cultural environments of Darmstadt during the 1830s. The portrait in question, datable around 1836, depicts a young man of about twenty years old, an age perfectly consistent with Elliot's at that time.

It is therefore almost certain that the painting depicts Leo von Elliot in his youth, and it is equally plausible that the portrait was created by Trautschold, his colleague and also a friend and classmate. This type of intimate and psychologically penetrating portrait is typical of an artist who has a personal relationship with the subject.

The rear inscription 'Selbstbildnis' (self-portrait) might derive from a later incorrect cataloging or archival interpretation, perhaps because the subject was also known as a painter.

The label bears the inscription 'Georg Zaun – court goldsmith – Darmstadt'.
Georg Zaun was an official gilder of the Grand Ducal Court of Hesse.
The title 'Hofvergolder' (court goldsmith) was granted only to elite artisans.
Indicates that the frame is antique and of high quality, made on an important commission.
It was probably intended for an aristocratic or official context.
Confirm the geographical origin consistent with Trautschold and Leo von Elliot.
Darmstadt in the 1930s was an active cultural center with strong artistic ties.
The label is an authentic element, not added later.
Prove that the painting was valued from the beginning, not a minor work.
It is a rare brand to find on paintings from the period, a distinctive detail.