Lot 159: f,w - WILHELM LIST, AUSTRIAN 1864-1918

PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTION

APOLLO UND DIE SCHWÄNE (APOLLO CHARMING THE SWANS)

123x351cm., 48½x138in.

signed

oil on canvas

PROVENANCE

George Encil (sale: Sotheby's, London, 21 November 1989, lot 74)
Purchased at the above sale by the present owner

EXHIBITED

Vienna, Erste Sezession, 1898, no. 370
Kunstsalon Brüko, 1914, no. 37

LITERATURE

W. Schölermann in Kunstchronik, Neue Folge IX, 1897-98, p. 371, no. 23
Neues Wiener Abendblatt, 5 March 1914
Die Zeit, 7 March 1914
Österreichische Volkszeitung, 11 March 1914

NOTE

Painted circa 1897-98, this picture was exhibited in the first Secessionist exhibition in Vienna, with the title Letzten Sang, den Sang des Todes, Lehrt den Schwan, des Sanges Gott.

In Greek mythology, Leto, who conceived twins with Zeus, was pursued by the jealous goddess Hera, Zeus' wife. Trying to prevent her from giving birth, Hera forced Leto to roam the earth. However, the pregnant Leto could not find a place to rest as Hera had forbidden earth to allow her to give birth in any sunlit place. The only place to seek shelter was the island of Delos in the Aegan Sea, which had appeared after Poseidon, divinity of the sea, had dropped the water level. As this island was said to be floating, it was not under Hera's prohibition. Before Leto gave birth to Artemis and Apollo, the island was encircled by a flock of swans. This is why swans were sacred to Apollo. In addition the legend tells that during the birth of the gods, holy swans flew around the island. As a gesture of thanks Delos was secured to the sea-bed by four columns to give it stability, becoming one of the most important sanctuaries to Apollo.