SwissArtGallery · Documented identity
The Austrian painter, draughtsman and etcher Franz de Paula Ferg, also known as Francis Paul Ferg, was born on 2 May 1689. His work focuses mainly on scenes of everyday life: markets, villages, fairs and peasant scenes, as well as small landscapes and seascapes animated by figures. The biographical source relates some of these compositions to the styles of Ostade, Berchem and Poelenburg.
His father places him with the painter Baschueber, with whom he stays for four years. After returning to his father, he studies the engravings of Callot and Le Clerc, which the source credits with influencing his style. In Vienna, he then studies with Hans Graaf, followed by a longer period with the landscape painter Joseph Orient; he lives with the latter for three years and often paints the figures in his landscapes. In Leipzig, he meets the landscape painter Alexander Thiele, whom he accompanies to Dresden, where he works with him for a time.
His paintings, often executed on copper, are described as carefully worked and finely finished. He also produces etchings, mainly small landscapes with figures and ruins, as well as a larger-format plate entitled “Boors Carousing”, in the style of Ostade. A set of the Four Seasons is engraved by T. Major; other works are engraved notably by François Vivares, J. Wagner and C. G. Geyser. Some of his etchings are among the works in the Sheepshanks Collection held at the British Museum. A painting catalogued under the title “Marktszene” is described as an oil on wood measuring 33 × 42.5 cm. In London, despite having plenty of work, he experiences material difficulties.
This profile brings together identity references for Franz de Paula Ferg and paintings, drawings and works on paper documented in auction catalogues.
Lempertz · Artcurial Beurret Bailly Widmer · Schuler
References include catalogue entries and available results; they do not all represent completed sales. Attributed works and special lots are excluded from the priced results.
Oil on copper
Zwei Reiter in abendlicher Landschaft
Öl auf Kupfer
Auction date : 2023-11-18
Published result : 6300 EUR
Including buyer’s premium
Estimate : 5000
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Oil on wood
Marktszene
Öl auf Holz
Auction date : 2023-05-20
Published result : 7560 EUR
Including buyer’s premium
Estimate : 8000
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Oil on wood
Rastende vor einem Brunnen
Öl auf Holz
Auction date : 2023-05-20
Published result : 5292 EUR
Including buyer’s premium
Estimate : 4000
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Oil on canvas
Umkreis Gegenstücke: Türkenschlacht
Öl auf Leinwand
Catalogue period : 2020-12-11
Published result : 2200 CHF
Fees not specified in the available data
Estimate : CHF 2000–3000
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Oil on copper
Gegenstücke: Reisende in einer Landschaft
Öl auf Kupfer
Catalogue period : 2019-06-28
Published result : 3200 CHF
Fees not specified in the available data
Estimate : CHF 3000–5000
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Oil on copper
Gegenstücke: Reisende in einer Landschaft
Öl auf Kupfer
Catalogue period : 2019-03-22
Catalogue reference — sale not confirmed
Estimate : CHF 6000–8000
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Öl auf Papier, auf Kupfer
Auction date : 2016-03-16
Published result : 9920 EUR
Including buyer’s premium
Estimate : 8000
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Oil on wood
Umkreis Gegenstücke: Landschaften mit figürlicher Staffage
Öl auf Holz
Catalogue period : 2015-06-19
Catalogue reference — sale not confirmed
Estimate : CHF 3000–5000
View the lot at the auction house ↗These references are shown separately because of their attribution or lot composition. Each record states the reason.
Oil on copper
Landschaft mit Taverne und Personen
Öl auf Kupfer
zugeschrieben
Catalogue period : 2018-03-21
Attributed
Published result : 1823 CHF
Including buyer’s premium
Estimate : CHF 1500–2000
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.
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