SwissArtGallery · Documented identity

Alexander Koester

Born : 1864Died : 1932Documented citizenships : Germany

Alexander Koester devotes a significant part of his work to landscapes and water birds: geese, swans and ducks appear alone or in groups. The subjects thus range from an individual animal to compositions featuring several birds, in varied settings and colours.

Before training as a painter, he trains as a pharmacist in Wintzenheim and works there as an apprentice in a pharmacy. He then studies art at the Karlsruhe Academy of Fine Arts under Karl Hoff and Claus Meyer; one source dates the beginning of his studies to 1885.

After his studies, Koester settles in Chiusa, called Klausen in German, and works there as a painter. According to a biographical source, he presents his first compositions of ducks in Berlin as early as 1899. He receives a gold medal at the Great Berlin Art Exhibition in 1902, followed by another medal at the World's Fair in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1904.

His travels to Lake Constance and Upper Bavaria form part of his artistic work; one source indicates that he visits Lake Constance from 1908 onwards. In 1915, he leaves Chiusa for Upper Bavaria. One source places his settlement in Dießen am Ammersee, while another places it in the area around Munich. After this move, his work also includes flower still lifes.

Koester is a member of the Munich Artists' Association and a friend of the painter Spyridion Vikatos, who paints his portrait. Works by the artist are listed, among other places, at the Neue Pinakothek in Munich, the Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen in Düsseldorf, the Frye Art Museum in Seattle and the art museum in Chiusa. A drawing entitled “Ansichten einer Schlucht”, attributed to Alexander Max Koester, is described as executed in pen and brush, in black wash, and signed at the lower left; it measures 33.5 × 24.5 cm. Alexander Koester dies in Munich on 21 December 1932.

This profile brings together identity references for Alexander Koester and paintings, drawings and works on paper documented in auction catalogues.

17 references are documented at Dobiaschofsky, Piguet, Lempertz. Each record links to its source; the amounts are not a general valuation of the artist’s work.

Works recorded at auction

Photograph : Lempertz · Enlarge image ↗

Lempertz · Lot 2422

Bauernstube mit grünem Ofen

Oil on canvas, on cardboard

Original catalogue wording

Bauernstube mit grünem Ofen
Öl auf Leinwand, auf Karton

Auction date : 2023-11-18

Published result : 4536 EUR

Including buyer’s premium

Estimate : 4000

Alexander Koester

Works recorded at auction

Bauernstube mit grünem Ofen

Stillleben mit blauer Vase

Sechs Enten in blauem Schilfwasser

Enten aus dem Wasser gehend

Entenkopfstudie mit Federkrone

Weiße Enten am Teichufer

Ruhende Enten am Ufer

Enten im Seerosenteich nahe dem steinigen Ufer

Fünf Enten im Teich

Views of a gorge

Girl in Traditional Dress Going to Church

Am Ufer

Enten im Teich

Enten am Seeufer

Enten im Wasser

Alexander Koester (1864-1932), Canards, huile

References excluded from statistics: attributions and special lots

Attribué à Alexander Koester — "Wintzenheim"

Sources and references

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