DESCRIPTION: This is an extraordinary original watercolor by Adolf Hitler with absolutely unique provenance obtained from Herbert Döhring, who was a member of Hitler's SS personal bodyguard and later served as a supervisor of the construction of the Berghof and as caretaker of the complex. The 6- x 10 1/2-inch painting on paper is titled and signed in pencil at lower left: "A. Hitler '09 Wien I Stallburggasse.” St. Michael's Church is visible in the background in this Vienna neighborhood between the Stallburg and the Königinkloster. Hitler drew some of the elements—mainly architectural lines—in pencil, and used earth-tone washes for coloration with black lines to accentuate details. As is almost always the case with Hitler's works, his perspective is very accurate with buildings bearing the correct scale and angles for their location; however, rather telling are his renditions of the human form; faces are never shown, torso and limb lengths are incorrect, and the perspective employed in the placement of the figures are often incorrect. These deficiencies were said to be what caused Adolf Hitler to be rejected from the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts. The painting is double-matted in gray and white, all set into a ca. 1940s or 1950s mat. The back of the frame has never been opened. Very fine! Herbert Döhring (1913-2001) served with the Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler as part of its 30-man personal protection command tasked with up-close protection of Hitler. Döhring then took over supervision of the Berghof, working first in the original Wachenfeld structure before assuming full caretaking responsibility. While there, Döhring met his future wife Anna Krautenbacher, a staff member, and he married her with a reception at the Berghof with Adolf Hitler in attendance. Provenance that is present with the painting includes: a signed typed statement by Herbert Döhring, at Hersbruck, Aug. 12, 1999, in which he states (in German): "I attest to the authenticity of the watercolor 'Stallburggasse' by Adolf Hitler, signed and dated '09. The painting was a present from chambermaid Lina Dannat to my wife . . . She presented this picture to my wife in 1942 at the time of our departure from the Berghof. I don’t know under which circumstances Ms. Dannat received possession. It is well known that many of these watercolors were stored in the gifts room on the second floor as well as in the large closet in the Great Hall . . . We hid the picture during the war years and had it framed in the years after the war. It was until today in my personal possession." Also included is an A.N.S. by Döhring, Hersbruck, Aug. 14, 1999, sending two detailed photos of the painting which he has signed (photos also present) and a note to a friend mentioning that the aforementioned Ms. Dannat had died the previous January. There are also copies of original photos of Döhring, his wife, and the Führer at their wedding, Döhring at the Berghof in 1941, and this man in 1999. Finally, there is a copy of Döhring's modern signed identity card and a notary's attestation of his signature. Our consignor has added a copy of Döhring's memoirs (in German): "Hitler's Hausverwalter" (Bochum: Zeit Reisen Verlag), 2013. 94pp. 8vo.” We will include a copy of Herbert Döhring’s book in English titled Living with Hitler, which is an account of his service as caretaker of the Berghof, with photographs of the author, Hitler, guests, etc. Also included are two photographs of the details of the painting that he took during the later years while it was still in his possesion and he signed them in blue ink. Döhring's friend Ms. Dannat may have been gifted the painting by Hitler, or she may have pilfered it. This may explain why Döhring chose to hide the painting until after the war ended! In any event, this painting is, in our experience, nearly identical in regards to subject, size, composition, technique, and perspective as almost every other authentic Hitler painting offered by us and other experienced dealers of Hitler's works. It’s the very best provenance we have ever encountered; having sold other Hitler watercolors over the past thirty years, we are 100-percent confident in the authenticity of this wonderful example of original artwork by Adolf Hitler.
PRICE: P.O.R.
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