Albert Welti
[1862-1912]
The Abduction of Europa by the Bull
Original 1894 Engraving by Swiss Symbolist Artist Albert Welti
According to Greek legend, the god Zeus fell in love with the beautiful Phoenician aristocrat Europa. To seduce her, he transformed himself into a tame white bull. While Europa and her entourage were gathering flowers, they came apon the bull and Europa climbed onto its back. Zeus in the form of the Bull ran away with her to the sea and swam to Crete.
Albert Welti's work is in the collections of
major Swiss museums and the subject of several
books and was recently featured in the exhibit
"1900, Symbolism and Art Nouveau in Swiss
Painting" in the city of Sion.
After studying photography in Lausanne, Albert
Welti traveled to Munich to study at the Munich
Academy of Art. Following a stay in Venice, he
became a student of one of Switzerland's most
original 19th Century artists, Arnold Boecklin.
Boecklin, master of a magical world of nymphs
and satyrs, had a profound influence on Welti.
Latter Welti studied the art of engraving with
Peter Halm, the Bernese artist. The last years
of his life were dedicated to painting the Salle
du Conseil des Etats (Ständeratssaals) in
the Swiss Parliament in Berne.
Welti was a very close friend of Hermann Hesse,
author of Siddartha and Steppenwolf. Their friendship
dated to their time together in Munich. Following
Welti's death in 1921, Hesse and his family moved
into the Welti's house in Bern, Switzerland and
it was there that Hesse wrote many of his later
works.
SOLD
Dimensions:
37 X 48 (dimensions of image platemark)
47 X 72 (dimensions of full sheet)
Conditions: Sheet has light age toning and there is some light spotting in the margins.
More works by Albert Welti
Signed in the Plate: Albert Welti Fec.-
Printers signature in the plate: Hch Wettenroth imp.
