SwissArtGallery · Documented identity
The German genre painter Gustav Majer, nicknamed “Schwabenmajer”, placed humour at the heart of his artistic practice: his images depict, among other subjects, inns, rural musicians and other genre scenes. Born in Balingen, in the Kingdom of Württemberg, on 21 March 1847, he died in Oberschleißheim on 6 September 1900. After attending the educational institutions in his home town, he completed his studies at the Stuttgart art school with distinction, then continued his studies in Cologne and Munich.
His career was interrupted by the Franco-Prussian War, in which he took part as a volunteer and for which he received the Württemberg Medal for Bravery as well as the Iron Cross. On returning to Munich, he became a pupil of Karl Theodor von Piloty and joined the artists’ association Allotria. His humour was appreciated in this circle and found expression in both his writings and his images. He spent the final years of his life in seclusion in Schleißheim.
The recorded titles attest to the variety of subjects addressed: Tiroler Wildprethändler (1872), Der Nachwuchs (1877) and Ein über dem Studium eingeschlafener Mönch (1879) are joined by Das Innere einer Schmiede (1880), Die Waffenprobe des Schwertfegers and Kleopatra mit der Natter (both dated 1886), as well as Badendes Mädchen (1890). In 1889, Zwei Schuhplattler was created for the Aktienbrauerei vom Bayerischen Löwen on the occasion of the Brussels exhibition. The works mentioned also include Aus der Umgebung Schleißheims, dated 1900.
Alongside painting, Majer pursued journalistic and literary activities. He published Allotria vom Schwabenmajer – Heitere Reimereien in Munich in 1879, then composed Fastgruß des Königs Winter : Vorspiel zum Künstler-Maskenfest with Dr Carl Lang; it was published in 1886. In 1898, Die Kunst für alle published his text Aphorismen.
This profile brings together identity references for Gustav Majer and paintings, drawings and works on paper documented in auction catalogues.
1 references are documented at Dobiaschofsky. Each record links to its source; the amounts are not a general valuation of the artist’s work.
Oil on wood
Katzen- und Hundepaar mit Pfauenfeder.
Öl auf Holz
Date to be documented
Published result : 1500 CHF
Fees not specified in the available data
Estimate : CHF 1800
View the lot at the auction house ↗SwissArtGallery documentary note based on the cited sources. Titles, media and qualifications are provided in the profile language; the original catalogue wording remains available in each record.
Documentation updated : 2026-10-19
