Alexander Rothaug (Vienna 1870-1946 Vienna)
Dying Nessos
circa 1930
a study for the painting in the Belvedere museum, Vienna
chalk in black and white and pencil on brownish vellum paper
Chalk in black and white and pencil
on brownish vellum
31,8 x 23 cm
The Daulton Collection
Provenance:
Estate of Robert Seitschek (Vienna 1910–1990 Kufstein)
Friedrich Feiersinger Collection, Tyrol
Discussion:
"This expressive study sheet for the figure of the centaur Nessos can be attributed to Rothaug's painting (around 1930, Belvedere Vienna, Inv. 4047). The centaur coveted Deïaneira, the wife of Heracles, and kidnapped her. For this, he was killed by Heracles, who can be seen in the background of the painting. Our study sheet, on the other hand, only shows the upper body of Nessos, distorted in his death throes, and also numerous smaller studies of details of the figure in the margin." B
["Das expressive Studienblatt zur Figur des Kentauren Nessos ist Rothaugs Gemälde (um 1930, Belvedere Wien, Inv. 4047) zuzuordnen. Der Kentaur begehrte Deïaneira, die Frau des Herakles, und entführte sie. Hier für wurde er von Herakles getötet, der im Hintergrund des Gemäldes zu erkennen ist. Unser Studienblatt hingegen zeigt lediglich den im Todeskampf verzerrten Oberkörper des Nessos, zudem im Rand zahl reiche kleinere Studien zu Details der Figur."] B
