Lot n° 63
Estimation :
1500 - 2500
EUR
Result with fees
Result
: 1 950EUR
Léo SCHNUG (1878-1933) - Lot 63
Léo SCHNUG (1878-1933)
Grenadier
Watercolor on paper, signed lower left.
H_36 cm W_26 cm
Issued with a certificate of authenticity from the Neustadt Galerie, which wrote the book "Léo Schnug, un artiste de légende : de la Neustadt au Haut-Koenigsbourg" published in 2017 by Editions Vandelle.
Léo Schnug remains one of the most singular and fascinating figures in Alsatian art. A virtuoso draughtsman, illustrator and decorator, he has developed an instantly recognizable visual universe, nourished by a medieval imagination and a pronounced taste for historical narrative.
Trained in Strasbourg in an artistic context marked by the eclecticism of Germanic and French influences, Schnug quickly made a name for himself with the exceptional quality of his drawing. His brushwork, both nervous and precise, reveals a remarkable mastery of line. The figures he depicts (knights, lansquenets, horsemen or legendary characters) unfold in compositions of great decorative richness.
His work is deeply marked by a fascination with the history of the Upper Rhine and the world of the Middle Ages.
Rather than seeking a strictly archaeological reconstruction, Schnug favors an imaginative, theatrical vision of the past. Flamboyant costumes, gleaming armor and Gothic architecture become the elements of a rich visual theater. Nevertheless, like Victor Huen, Schnug was an erudite student of the architecture, history, details and accessories of military armor and costume, which he then transcribed with impressive accuracy into his imaginary scenes.
Alongside his illustrations, the artist also created major wall decors, notably in public buildings and emblematic spaces in Strasbourg. These works testify to his talent for integrating images into architecture.
A tormented personality, Schnug's life was marked by setbacks and personal difficulties, but his work nonetheless retains a remarkable expressive force. Even today, his drawings are among the most emblematic images of Alsace's historical imagination.
Léo Schnug's works can be found in frescoes on the walls of the Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg and the Maison Kammerzell in Strasbourg. As for public institutions, he is mainly represented at the Musée Alsacien and the Musée d'Art Moderne et Contemporain in Strasbourg.
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