Lesser Ury
1861 - 1931

Der blaue Berg. Ca. 1900/10.
Oil on canvas.
With the hand-written estate number "487" on the reverse of the canvas. 79 x 97 cm (31.1 x 38.1 in). [AW].

• An exceptionally modern landscape, depicted with atmospheric lighting and a seemingly abstract surface composition.
• As a counterpoint to Lesser Ury’s numerous Berlin street scenes, this is an immensely contemplative composition that demonstrates his diverse talents as a landscape painter.
• Significant provenance: From the artist’s estate and long held by his descendants.
• Works by Ury were most recently featured in the major exhibition on Max Liebermann at the Museum Frieder Burda, Baden-Baden, in cooperation with the Museum Barberini, Potsdam.

Accompanied by an experts’ report prepared by Dr. Sibylle Groß, Berlin, dated May 31, 2023.
We are grateful to Anna B. Rubin, HCPO New York, for her kind expert advice.

PROVENANCE: Artist’s estate (1931, estate number 487, with a label on the reverse).
“Meisener,” n.p. (acquired from the above-mentioned estate in 1932, according to the catalog of the Cassirer Archive; possibly an alias for the Lesser Ury estate).
Artist’s estate (until Jan. 31, 1933).
Sophie Bieber, Berlin (inherited from Lesser Ury, allocated from the estate on January 31, 1933; the work is free of restitution claims).
Probably Erich Bieber, Berlin/Eichwalde (inherited from the above in 1935).
Private collection, Switzerland (until 2004).
Private collection, Berlin.
Private collection, Brandenburg.
Private collection, North Rhine-Westphalia (acquired from the above).

LITERATURE: Inventory list of the Lesser Ury estate: no. 487: Waldweg, oil, 78 x 96 cm. SMB-ZA, Berlin, I NG 858, fol. 377.
Der künstlerische Nachlass von Lesser Ury. Exhibition and Auction, Paul Cassirer, Berlin, Oct. 13–15 and 21, 1932, Auction Oct. 21, 1932, Auction Director Paul Cassirer, cat. no. 64.
Manuscript annotated copy of the aforementioned auction catalog, Oct. 21, 1932, Paul Cassirer Archive & Walter Feilchenfeldt Archive, Zurich (https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.48864#0043).
List of the allocated pastels from the Lesser Urys estate, January 31, 1933, private collection, New York (Kurt Ury estate).
Villa Grisebach Auctions, Berlin, 118th Auction, June 12, 2004, lot 142.

Called up: June 13, 2026 - ca. 16.13 h +/- 20 min.