Lion Tamer

(1884 Neustadt an der Haardt – 1957 Bad Dürkheim) "At the Circus" / "The Lion Tamer". Original title: Scene from the Circus Krone in Munich. This major work, painted in 1928, is characterized by powerful and rapid brushstrokes and belongs to the best creative period of late Impressionism. It was strongly influenced by the animal artist Heinrich von Zügel, who was Dill’s teacher at the Munich Academy from 1909 to 1913. As early as the summer of 1917, Dill exhibited his first extensive collection of 10 oil paintings and 15 drawings at the Munich Glass Palace exhibition. Since then, equestrian and horse motifs, as well as lions and other big cats, became the main themes of his works, so that he also became known as "Horse Dill" or "Lion Dill". As a member of the Munich section, he participated in various exhibitions of the art association from 1922 to 1930. In 1924, he was awarded the title of professor. In 1930, the artist moved from Munich to Neustadt an der Weinstraße, and in 1941 he moved to Bad Dürkheim, where he lived and worked until his death in 1957. Together with Max Slevogt, Otto Dill is now considered one of the most important artists of classical modernism in the Palatinate. Oil on canvas; signed and dated 1928. On the reverse, signature, title, and note "At the Circus, Professor Otto Dill, Munich"; original label with the artist’s name and address in Munich. 70 cm x 100 cm. In a frame. Provenance: German private collection, Rhineland-Palatinate.