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Inspiration From Artist Wk 129 Bonus Artist : Johannes Holst.

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Paul (Dixie) Dean

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Welcome to this weekends bonus artist thread , my choice of artist this week is : Johannes Holst 1880- 1965, was a German artist known for his realistic paintings of ships at sea.  Set in the open seas and oceans capturing the weather conditions , his detailed depictions of waves and clouds made his work highly sought after in his own lifetime. During his lifetime he observed the changes from sail to steam and then the beginning of the decline of steam ships . He also painted landscapes and still life , my own introduction to his work was via my studies of  marine art and I have seen little of his other paintings. I hope you enjoy my selection of his artwork, please do try to find more of his landscapes etc.
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, Napa

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The penultimate painting, of the pastoral scene - was that really by the same artist?  It looks as if it comes from a MUCH earlier period - of the maritime paintings, the fifth and seventh from the bottom are particularly fine. 
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, Napa

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I'm pretty sure at least one of those landscapes is by another Johann Holst - I'd make a guess at late eighteenth century rather than 19th into 20th.   Ah!  Issue solved, I think - I've had a look and Johann Holst and Johannes Holst were indeed two different people, separated by over 100 years.  The only dated painting by Johann I can find was from 1728 - there's very little information about him that I could find; seems to have been one of many jobbing artists of the period, and not a painter of maritime subjects.  

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by Robert Jones, NAPA

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Carol .

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A good selection of paintings, Dixie, a mix of drama and tranquility. I do like the crashing waves and gulls, and the one below it. I've just had a search for this artist his work is pleasing to view.
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Paul (Dixie) Dean

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Thanks for solving that Robert , I did check before posting and it came back as the Holst I posted but we have seen this before on the internet, paintings attributed to the wrong person. Pleased you like his work Carol , he paints the sea so well.

Alan Bickley

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I particularly like the fourth one down from Paul, a maritime subject, which are generally my favourites!
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Tony Auffret

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Looking on line for his work, it did strike me as curious that for an artist who lived until 1965 he painted so many sailing ships - given how few there would have been around in most of his life time.  I can only assume he painted every single one, more than once, or he painted from his imagination.  Just out of devilment, I tried to find paintings that were not of sailing ships or the sea.  A couple of examples are below, but, although his main body of work is something that doesn't stir my soul, it is clear that his best work was the sailing ship.
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Lewis Cooper

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Some good points there by Tony.  I grew up near the Thames in the 40/50s, the sailing barges were still very much in use, occasionally we'd see a schooner...beyond that, nothing much of the great days of sail.  Probably they were around in this artist's younger days, as Dixie said he'd have witnessed the transition from sail to steam.  He's one of those artists who has me thinking 'are these all by the same hand'?  The third and fourth maritime paintings in Dixie's choice are excellent works, in my opinion.  Did the same man produce the bandstand painting (that I dislike), and the still life (that I like)?  I find the last of Tony's choices (the young woman) very lackluster, and to my eye doesn't show the same skills that produced the maritime paintings.  All of which may just be his development over time. I could easily be persuaded that I'm looking at 2 or 3 different artists work.  (I forgot to mention the landscape that looks Georgian era to me.)
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Paul (Dixie) Dean

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As Lew mentioned Holst was around at the demise of sailing ships and looking at the history of marine art there was a demand for paintings of sailing ships as people became nostalgic about the tea clipper etc. He mainly painted marine paintings and made a good living from it apparently, my thinking is that he painted other subjects occasionally and therefore was as proficient at the other subjects. I agree Lew some of the painting look to be by a different artist but I think like you that it’s down to his developmental and changing as his skill developed over time .  Another selection.

Jenny Harris

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Further to Robert’s comment about the landscape in Paul’s first selection having been painted by another artist by the name of Holst, I noticed that the painting directly above that (of a country fair) appeared to have a different signature - it was actually painted by a Rudolf Hockner - so Lewis’ comment that it looked as though he was looking at work by 2 or 3 different artists was proved right!  I’m not a great fan of maritime art, but do like the third down of Paul’s original selection.

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by Jenny Harris

With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, Napa

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Lew - the maritime paintings show the same hand; the landscapes are much earlier and by a different artist (and not, if he'll forgive me, a particularly good one - well, he won't know, so I think I'm safe enough there).  The one that puzzles me a bit is the rowing boat with four boys in it; the boys themselves do seem to be very stiff, and not that well drawn; the painting of the young woman is, again, rather oddly proportioned and looks like an advertising poster - reminding me of adverts for Pears' soap.  Mind you, I am in need of new specs - am having to peer at the images too closely to the screen, which adds a bit of distortion. The sea, and boats, was his métier - and not young women or boys: I think they ARE Johannes H's work, the signature is clear on both.  I could believe that the young woman painting, and the still life (which doesn't seem to be signed) were from his early work - he did after all live to be 85 - but the rowing boat looks like quite an advanced piece, in all respects except for the figures.  Is it my eyesight, or does anyone agree?
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Paul (Dixie) Dean

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Thanks Jenny it have solved the mystery , I failed to notice the signature as it’s far to small on my pad .  Well that’s my excuse for not paying attention to what I’ve posted , think it’s time I went to spec savers but that won’t ure my negligence.  Robert just read your comments yes I agree regarding the figure definitely not his thing , but who am I to criticise his work on figures as I’m hopeless myself.

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