WATERCOLOR PAINTING OF A CHURCH BY ADOLF HITLER
An original oversize watercolor painting by future dictator Adolf Hitler, 8 3/4"" x 11 1/4"" (sight), one of Hitler's Vienna street scenes depicting an exterior view of ""Maria am Gestade"" (English: ""Mary at the Shore""), a Gothic church and one of the oldest churches in the city. Hitler has painted a side view of the church, including the two side entrances, the alley way, adjoining buildings, and human figures which one rarely sees in his work. The painting is executed in a black ink wash with muted shades of orange, ochre, brown, red and ivory, the same colors and in the same style in a very similar work sold by us in 2013. The image is signed in ochre paint: ""A. Hitler"" at lower-left in block letters, as Hitler's works typically were. The colors, style, choice of subject and poor depth perspective are entirely consistent with Hitler's work. Indeed, Hitler took great liberties in this work, straightening the alleyway, narrowing the church's exterior walls, and placing buildings closer together. The human figures are virtually identical to those often seen in Hitler's paintings: elongated or amorphous figures poorly represented in every respect. Hitler painted this now de-consecrated church several times, from different perspectives. In very good condition. Set in a period (toned) mat and gold gilt frame with period hanger on reverse, from an Austrian consignor. Having handled many Hitler paintings in the past, we are confident that the style, signature...and the lack of trumped-up paperwork points to this piece as being completely genuine and certainly not one of the dozens of frauds and oils (!) to have reached the market over the past dozen years. Additional photos on request. NOTE: This lot is being re-offered due solely to the failed bid of JOHN ALLIOTT in our previous auction."