Ridinger, Johann Elias (Ulm 1698 – Augsburg 1767). The Deer’s Four Times of Day. Set of the four etchings with engraving. Between 1743/44 + Oct. 1763. Inscribed: J. E. Ridinger Pictor ac Sculptor Augustan. (1) and J. E. Ridinger fec. (2-4) resp. + characterization of each scenery above of the oval image the corners of which hatched out. 34.8-35.1 x 28.4-28.9 cm.

Thienemann + Schwarz 238-241 (“splendid compositions” Nagler).

“ On a wall of rock a brocket is standing greeting the rising sun by neck put forward far up. Below at a water a 12-point stately one resting, looking, as a friend of the light, upwards likewise. Beside a further one restfully standing and two hinds. ”

For the brocket the drawing Weigel, 1869, no. 133 – “A Languishing Stag standing on a Rock Piece”, black chalk heightened with white, on blue paper – should have been used as copy, inscribed by Ridinger with “in silva Nymphenburg (near Munich), ad vivum delineavit J. E. Ridinger 1738”. – As a whole the composition should stand in connection with the oil given to Johann Elias in the 1978 exposition “(Hunting Formerly and Today)” of the Lower Austrian State Museum at Marchegg Castle (no. 129, 44.5 x 37 cm, for the pendant see the noon plate) described as “… shows a rocky landscape with stags and hinds”.

With the dedication – the one and only own within the about 1600 leaves of the graphic œuvre! – to the artistically all-round diplomat Christian Ludwig von Hagedorn (Hamburg 1712 – Dresden 1780), brother of the poet and since late 1763 chairman of the Dresden Academy, then, in 1764, chairman of all cultural institutions in Dresden, here in his position of Saxon Legation Councillor of August III (Elector Friedrich August II of Saxony), King of Poland:

The dedication giving together the timing (hereto see additionally to the “Hippocrene”-side of the evening-plate) for the setting-up of the suite. In 1735 entered upon Saxon electoral service Hagedorn was promoted Legation Councillor in 1743/44 (Privy in 1763). Because the successor of August III, Elector Friedrich Christian (Oct.-Dec. 1763) did not take over the kingship, too, the creation of the set lies before his time. And in such a way before that of Hagedorn’s as highest cultural administrator, too. Regarding the motive for Ridinger’s distinguishing unique dedication there is still no knowledge here.

“ For midday rest a capital stag is standing (at a water), frontally to the beholder, in the shadow of a strong tree of a forest. Beside a lying stately ten-point one licking his back and a smaller further one, both resting. ”

The pendant to the oil in Marchegg mentioned above to the morning plate described in the catalog per no. 128 as following :

“ … represents a group of three stags assembled under a mighty tree. Two deers have lain down on the ground, the third one stands almost frontally against the onlooker. In the foreground a watercourse, in the background dense wood. ”

“ The main figure, a vigorous 12-point one (one of the two binding marks of the ridinger gallery), has a resting hind alongside of him and a brocket (perhaps the son) behind him. All three vivaciously for they are night-animals. ”

Under leaving out of the standing second hind it is the right foreground group in reverse from Th. 293

which was transferred to copper – „J. El. Ridinger ad viv. del. et fec.“ – in 1746/48, but surely hardly before 1747. This scenery shows the said four-group on a rock above a water assumed as the bay of a lake and together at the foot of a rock projecting into the subject. Beyond at the edge of the forest another capital one with four-headed seraglio.

The Indian ink preparatory drawing “Deer Herd at the Bank” of the Coppenrath collection inscribed

“(Drawn  from  nature  near  Starenberg  on the  Lake)”

(part II, 1889, no. 1918, “For Th. 293”) evidently belonging to could be, however, identical with that one inscribed with the same words in Weigel, 1869, no. 130, and by this as belonging to Th. 241, see the& following scenery.

Among the changes of details of an oil of the complete composition Th. 293 traded here the situation of the water below of the right foreground group proves to be remarkable as, in contrast to the copper, illustrating clearly a flowing off.

“ It’s moonlight at rutting season. A 16-point rutting stag, belling pitifully, surrounded by seven pieces game, an imposing seraglio, which are about to go to water (and that clearly that of a large lake). At the bank beyond another stag crying. ”

This group of eight exactly the situation of the afore-mentioned drawing Weigel 130:

“ A landscape with a river (sic!), in front a stag and (7) hinds going downwards from the rock to the river. Inscribed: Drawn from nature at Starenberg on the Lake. With the painter’s name (this in Coppenrath above included per “Inscribed” as taken for granted), Indian ink and black chalk … ”

In respect of the number this group corresponds with that placed above of the water at the edge of the forest of Th. 293 whose capital one only doesn’t show 16 points. – Thematically by the way surely also belonging also to the undescribed drawing Weigel 169 “A woodland with a stag and ten standing and lying resp. hinds; a rutting stag beyond a river doesn’t dare to come near. On bluish paper, Indian ink, heightened with white, oblong roy. f.”.

With all that discussed above “The Four Times of Day” by this linked up for the present three of their sceneries with their local context for the first time,

And in each case from own local view. An earlier timing for the working of the Four Times of Day set on the late 40s, early 50s as could be deduced from this appears sooner improbably with regard to a thinkable time mark for the following Hippocrene, ensuring to 1757/58, as inevitably worked before the Four Times of Day.

The master’s then preference for the environments of Munich furthermore proven by inscriptions in drawings/coppers in Starnberg (Weigel 130/Th. 293; Collection of Ridinger drawings at Wawra, 1890, no. 56 [“Stags on a Hill moving towards the Forest, inscribed Ad Vivum in Silva Starenbergensis Joh. El. Ridinger 1738”, chalk on blue paper,, heightened with white, large fol.] in 1736 + 1738 , in  Nymphenburg  in 1731 (Th. 287, “in the Parc of Nymphenburg  towards  Stahrenberg …”) + in 1738 (Weigel 133/Th. 238), possibly still in 1734 (Th. 274) and perhaps/presumably in  Schleißheim  in 1736 (Th. 270) + 1738 (Wawra 55, “Stags in the Forest near Schleissheim. With the name of the master and … 1738 …”, chalk on blue paper, heightened with white).

Beyond their general belonging to the finest of the beautiful in such a way

Ridinger’s  “The  Deer’s  Four  Times  of  Day”

turn out to be

as  additionally  embedded  in  a  local  area  of  highest  degree .

And of an iconographical one, too. For

“ Stags at the water in mountainous landscape hinted on the famous psalm 42.1 ‚So like the deer thirsts for fresh water, so my soul strives after thee, Lord‘ and became to the cipher for the ‚anima christiana‘ ”

(Justus Müller-Hofstede on the occasion of the 1985 Cologne Savery exhibition).
Ref. no. 14,989 / in stock – not catalogued / request description & offer

„ Vielen Dank für Alles, liebe Grüße und schönes Wochenende von der Mosel Herzlichst “

(Frau A. B., 4. April 2003)