Heinrich Buerkel
Charcol burning in a wintery landscape
In 1824, having finally being granted permission from his
parents to pursue an artistic career, Heinrich Bürkel moved
from his birthplace of Pirmasens to Munich. With the
exception of two years spent in Italy in 1831-32 he spent
much of his life in the Bavarian capital.
Life in the Bavarian mountains and the close connection between
the countryside and those who worked it was a favourite theme of
Bürkel who was praised for his skill in depicting nature in
winter. This beautifully rendered painting with its charcoal
burners at work at the onset of winter is a fine example of his
sensitive working of such scenes.
Drawing inspiration also from the works of the 17th Century
Dutch masters, Bürkel became a very successful
landscape and genre artist whose works are to be found in
many European public and private collections. This work, for
example, was in the bought by HRH Prince Adolphus Frederick,
Duke of Cambridge while he was Viceroy of Hanover. It was inherited
by his son, HRH George, 2nd Duke of Cambridge and was
sold at the auction of his large collection by the executors
of the Cambridge estate in 1904.