Study for the composition of In Praise of Modesty

In his images of figures, Hans von Marées succeeded in overcoming the prevalent currents of history painting and Realism and creating a new expressive form in terms of both form and content. His compositions take their cue from Classical Antiquity and show figures in fundamental relationships, beyond all anecdotal description and exuding a timeless, calm mood. In Praise of Modesty visualizes the artist’s prime ability to create a painterly effect even in the early stages of work on a composition. The study for a painting in the Neue Pinakothek in Munich addresses a theme that was as of the 1870s central to Marées: appreciation and reward. A male figure approaches a seated woman turned away from him, bearing a crown of leaves (not complete at this point). Two children are witness to this, emphasizing quite naturally the family-like moment of the motherliness and modesty embodied by the woman. Marées devoted two beautiful detailed studies to the children. (Frank Schmidt)