Désiré THOMASSIN [1858 - 1933], Winter landscape with figures in the background

Désiré THOMASSIN [1858 - 1933].

Winter landscape with figures in the background

technique: oil on canvas

dimensions: 40 x 60.5 cm/50x70.5 cm

signed l.d. "D.Thomassin"

Désiré Thomassin became a student at the Royal Music School in Munich at the age of 19. By 1881, he was studying with professors Josef Gabriel Rheinberger and Max Hieber.

After graduating until 1883, Thomassin worked as a music teacher. Thomassin saw himself primarily as a composer. Despite some recognition in this field, he was unable to support his family for the fees he received. Consequently, he decided to base his career on painting. It is generally stated that Thomassin studied with Wilhelm von Diez at the Royal Academy of Arts in Munich. Unfortunately, the absence of his name on the Academy's matriculation lists makes it impossible to state this fact unequivocally.

Despite his talent as a painter, he received few commissions and was unable to improve his precarious economic situation. As a result, he took a job for the Munich art dealer Jakob Anger. He regularly painted paintings for which he received payment. Thomassin was probably ashamed of the commissioned work and signed many and these paintings with a false name: "Renard."

The subject matter of Thomassin's works focused on peasant genre scenes and coastal landscapes maintained in a romantic, painterly mood. In his work he relied heavily on the naturalistic style of Diez.

Thomassin was close to the artists' colony in Dachau and was a member of the Reich Society of Artists in Germany.