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kazzz_71 · ‎03-18-2018

HI,

I am after any info on this painting I have inherited. Bought in Germany in the early 1970's when my dad was posted out there. I can't find anything on the internet about it. It needs a good clean and was wondering if it is valuable enough to spend anything to get it cleaned.

Many thanks for any help

argon38 · ‎03-18-2018

It was sold by the Josef Mensing gallery in Rhynern, Germany. A quick online search brings up some pretty unhelpful information:

https://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090621101805AA01tqJ

https://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20141127115420AA9EU9W

Here's a confusing thread about other paintings purchased from the gallery:

https://www.artconversation.com/forum/questions/5264-oil-painting-made-in-germany-need-help-identify...

My guess would be that it probably isn't worth the expense of cleaning.

pingpong517 · ‎03-18-2018

well i think since your dad liked it, and bought it...maybe it's worth cleaning and keeping....

not sure how much cleaning is....but think the value is in the history and who knows maybe under is a famous painting..and dad knew it all the time...lol.... but really you dad must have liked it and isn't that worth a lot?

variety_nook · ‎03-18-2018

I would suggest that you VERY, VERY CAREFULLY RESEARCH that painting.

If that truly is a piece from, Willi Bauer, it would be well worth cleaning! (not to mention the effort put forth in researching)

Willi Bauer painted many scenic Alpine pieces. Yours looks as though it could be one.

argon38 · ‎03-18-2018

@variety_nook wrote:
I would suggest that you VERY, VERY CAREFULLY RESEARCH that painting.

If that truly is a piece from, Willi Bauer, it would be well worth cleaning! (not to mention the effort put forth in researching)

Willi Bauer painted many scenic Alpine pieces. Yours looks as though it could be one.

Interesting! That'll teach me to give hasty advice.

"Earlier in his career, Bauer’s collectors included Americans stationed at U.S. military bases in Germany."

http://arnotgallery.com/artists/willi-bauer-the-early-collection-circa-pre-1987/

variety_nook · ‎03-19-2018

@argon38 Don't be hard on yourself. I'm not an art collector, but there are thousands of painters out there who do nothing but scenic paintings. Not many make it to the Willi Bauer level.

His paintings do sell in the 4 and 5 digit number range. Also, as the old adage goes, An artist's work only increases in value once they've died. Why it would not also only be worth cleaning, but also as a very nice investment to hold onto.

The link that you provided in your post for, Arnot Gallery, should be very helpful to the OP. That would be my first contact source. They're obviously very well educated in Willi Bauer's work. It would also be a great contact as to educate the OP on the price of cleaning.

@kazzz_71 Do not replace the frame either. If that is the original frame it also adds to the value. I suggest taking advantage of the link, http://arnotgallery.com/artists/willi-bauer-the-early-collection-circa-pre-1987/ provided by @argon38 for further research and contact info.

@argon38 Thank you for the reply. I found the link helpful too. I was stationed in what was then, West Germany, (1980-83) in the, Black Forest, region. I still kick myself in the backside for not buying some of those hand carved and painted, Black Forest Cuckoo clocks. Also very collectible.

Have a "GREAT" day!!!

kazzz_71 · ‎03-19-2018

@variety_nook

Thanks for your reply. I got a little bit excited for a minute about my painting 🙂 I have been looking online all day for Willi Bauer paintings and info. I can't seem to find a signature that matches with mine. All the ones I can find have an initial on them as well as the surname. Mine just has the surname.

I had already took the plunge and emailed the Arnot Gallery this morning, I have just had a reply from them and because I am in the UK, they are asking for $500 for authenticating and another $500 for appraisal. So I don't know what to do now lol.

Thanks for your help anyway 🙂

mountaingigi · ‎03-19-2018

I looked at quite a few Willi Bauer paintings, and in all of them he signed with a "W" in front of his name, which isn't evident in this painting. As well, most of what I saw had a more impressionist bent (his style) than the OP's painting.

I'm not saying it's not him, but he's still alive so it may be possible to track him down and find out if this is one of his paintings. It really doesn't look like the examples I found, which is why I didn't bother posting my research from askart.com.

I could be wrong, though. It's definitely worth more research.

Oops ... just saw the OP's response. Yes, the signature of yours doesn't match what is available to view online.

argon38 · ‎03-19-2018

What a good-natured post! Thanks for that. I had never heard of Willi Bauer and I definitely shouldn't have been so dismissive of the painting. Still, I have to say that the OP's work doesn't seem to me to be quite up to the standard of work I'm seeing in other examples of paintings by Willi Bauer.

This is by Willi Bauer:

https://www.artbrokerage.com/Willi-Bauer/Water-Mill-in-Autumn-37x41-100755

This is by the OP's Bauer:

Now, there may well be a good reason for the difference in quality, but if I were the OP I would hold my excitement in check until the Arnot Gallery come back with a positive response. If it does turn out to be by Willi Bauer nobody (apart from the OP) will be happier than myself.

argon38 · ‎03-19-2018

@argon38 wrote:

Now, there may well be a good reason for the difference in quality, but if I were the OP I would hold my excitement in check until the Arnot Gallery come back with a positive response.

Oh right, I see they've responded with a request for $1000

sonomabarn67 · ‎03-19-2018

Hey, I'll get in on that action; I'll do it for $800! Just kidding.

I think the board members are giving you the same advice... for free.

sonomabarn67 · ‎03-19-2018

Just wanted to point out that Bauer is a fairly common German name. In the midwest US (lots of German settlers) our bus driver was named Bauer.

argon38 · ‎03-19-2018

@sonomabarn67wrote:
Just wanted to point out that Bauer is a fairly common German name. In the midwest US (lots of German settlers) our bus driver was named Bauer.

You're saying it was him?

sonomabarn67 · ‎03-19-2018

No, his name was Rolli Bauer the bus driver. He was also the janitor when he wasn't the bus driver.

maxine*j · ‎03-19-2018

@argon38wrote:

This is by Willi Bauer:

https://www.artbrokerage.com/Willi-Bauer/Water-Mill-in-Autumn-37x41-100755

This is by the OP's Bauer:

Now, there may well be a good reason for the difference in quality, but if I were the OP I would hold my excitement in check until the Arnot Gallery come back with a positive response. If it does turn out to be by Willi Bauer nobody (apart from the OP) will be happier than myself.

Your first picture is of a whole work and the second is of a detail taken from taken from OP's painting, and I don't think you can compare the two. When you pull a detail out of a picture that large, it often looks oddly crude and smeary.

Having said that, I agree that OP needs to a lot more homework before attributing this to the Willi Bauer, as you and others have already advised.

If the painting were mine, I would not pay anyone for authentication or appraisal at this point, however. I'd continue on-line research.