- Monumental paintings by Johann Michael Bossard discovered
During renovation work on the residential and studio building of the Museum Kunststätte Bossard in Jesteburg, roofers have discovered previously unknown canvas panels by Johann Michael Bossard. For over a century, the rolled-up individual paintings of Bossard's monumental work "Tatkraft" from 1907/1908 were stored in an inaccessible attic space, the museum announced.
The craftsmen not only transported 22 canvas panels belonging to the painting from the room, they also found three additional paintings and a drawing from Bossard's early work, as well as parts of a painted frame. "This sensational find is a significant gain for our museum," said museum director Heike Duisberg-Schleier. "It opens up new perspectives on the work of Johann Michael Bossard."
The monumental painting was not unknown. A draft, individual studies, and historical photographs are part of the collection of the Stiftung Kunststätte Johann and Jutta Bossard. However, the whereabouts of the painting had not been clarified. "Tatkraft" is believed to consist of 27 individual canvas panels with a total length of 18 meters and a height of about five meters, created between 1907 and 1908.
The work is considered a key piece with which Bossard presented himself as a monumental artist upon taking up his position as a teacher for sculpture at the Kunstgewerbeschule Hamburg. Now, the further history of the 26 found works will be researched. The found pieces will be cleaned, examined for microbial infestation, and decisions about their further handling will be made in the coming months.
The discovered paintings will be displayed in the Art museum once they've been properly restored and examined. Visitors of the Museum Kunststätte Bossard in Jesteburg will now have the opportunity to appreciate more of Johann Michael Bossard's early work, including portions of a painted frame and additional canvas panels.
