Fidus (Luebeck 1868-1948 Woltersdorf bei Berlin), also known as Hugo Hoeppener

"Luzifer," sheet with three studies

circa 1898

watercolor over pencil on firm wove paper

sheet 10 x 31,5 cm

lower left titled in pencil: "Luzifer"

verso inscribed in pencil: "Geist, Berlin"

The Daulton Collection

Condition: Verso with traces of an earlier mount; a faint vertical crease in the middle; minimally browned.

Provenance:  Estate of Hans-Friedrich Geist (1901-1978), the German illustrator, author, and art educator, who was the artistic director of the Lübeck Overbeck Society [Leiter der Overbeck Gesellschaft in Lübeck]

Discussion:

from the auction catalogue commentary (JvV): Drei Variationen Luzifers vom jugendlichen "prometheischen Lichtbringer" zum zunehmend düsteren rebellischen Engel mit stechendem Blick. - Zu seiner lebenslangen Beschäftigung mit der Figur notierte der Künstler in seinem Tagebuch "mein 'Luzifer' ist kein Widersacher und Haderer, ja Empörer, sondern der älteste 'Sohn Gottes', der das Ichbewusstsein hervorzuschüren hat. Kein 'stinkender Teufel' der Pfaffen! denn in seinen Göttern malt sich der Mensch! wie in seinen 'Teufeln'." (Fidus, 7.VI.1946, Frecot/Geist/Kerbs, S. 279).  

English translation of the auction catalogue commentary: Three variations of Lucifer from the youthful "Promethean bringer of light" to the increasingly dark, rebellious angel with a piercing gaze. - Regarding his lifelong preoccupation with the figure [of Lucifer], the artist noted in his diary: "My 'Lucifer' is not an adversary and quarreler, even a rebel, but the oldest 'son of God' who has to stir up self-consciousness. Not a 'stinking devil' of the priests! for man paints himself in his gods! as in his 'devils'." (Fidus, 7.VI.1946, Frecot/Geist/Kerbs, p. 279) [for the diary quotation, citing Janos Frecot, Johann Friedrich Geist, Diethart Kerbs, Fidus 1868-1949. Zur ästhetischen Praxis bürgerlicher Fluchtbewegungen, München 1972, at p. 279].