Lot 377: Still Life by Martin Rettig (American, 1869-1956),

oil on canvas, signed l.r.; 24 x 19.5 in.

Family lore has it that Frank Duveneck (American/Ohio, 1848-1919) gave the picture as by his own hand to his dentist in exchange for dental work. An amusing, if unsubstantiated, anecdote from the Cincinnati artist and his circle, characteristic of the tight knit, primarily German artist community. Martin Rettig is known to have blatantly copied the style of contemporaries Duveneck and Henry Farny, with whom he shared a studio.

Overall dark condition, more typical of Duveneck than the brighter works of Rettig; signature seems intentionally hidden, some minor losses to frame's gesso but otherwise in good shape.