Attr. Martin Johann Schmidt 1718-1801 Austrian School 18th.Century, Oil study on paper 16 x 20.5cm Provenance: Thomas Agnew & Sons Ltd,
Martin Schmidt called Kremser Schmidt or Kremserschmidt, was one of the outstanding Austrian artists of the late Baroque/Rococo period. A painter, draughtsman and etcher. Born at Grafenwörth bei Krems, he studied in Göttweig, Dürnstein, Vienna and probably Venice. He painted numerous altarpieces, historical and mythological scenes, portraits and frescoes. Stylistically he bridges the late Baroque into the refinement of the Rococo, merging the art of the Danube and Venetian schools, greatly influenced by Sebastiano Ricci and Gaspare Diziani. In 1768 he was elected to full membership of the Vienna Academy. He lived and worked almost all his life in Stein an der Donau.