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JULIUS JACOB (1842 Berlin 1929)
Study in the Villa Semiramis (Berlin)
Inscribed: "Julius Jacob / Berlin / 81." 317 x 258 mm
Graphite, Water- and body color.
Provenance: Private collection Berlin
The "Berliner Adressbuch für das Jahr 1879" (the Berlin directory of
the year 1879) contains information regarding the estate. In the
renters registers the tenants of the Villa Semiramis are listed as
"E. v. d. Leeden, Hauptm. a. D. Spindler"
The directory of the following year only names William Spindler
(1838 Berlin - 1889) as the single owner.
William Spindler as well as van der Leeden were politically active
followers of Johann Jakoby (1805 Königsberg - 1877), an important
figure within the left fraction of the anti-monarchic "Deutsche
Fortschrittspartei" (German Progress Party). The paintings displayed
in the study don't merely show what upscale living looked like in
the progressive Bourgeoisie, but also what type of room decor was
fashionable in Berlin at the time. Naturalistic landscapes and
studies of figurines dominate the walls. Portraits of military
personnel or royals cannot be found. |