Church of Benz. 1909.
Colored pencil drawing over pencil.
Upper right dated (partly illegibly). Inscribed "Benz" on the reverse. On thin paper (side punched), with red edges in left and bottom. 16.5 x 20.8 cm (6.4 x 8.1 in), almost the full sheet. [EH].
In 2006 the sheet was sold from the Achim Moeller Collection for the benefit of the "Lyonel Feininger Catalogue Raisonne Project" at Christie's London.
• This subtle drawing was made during a three-month stay on the Baltic peninsula of Usedom in the summer of 1909.
• One of the earliest drawings of the church St. Petri in Benz, which he also depicted in a painting from 1924.
• The same year the artist joined the Berlin Secession.

Achim Moeller, director of the Lyonel Feininger Project LLC, New York – Berlin, has confirmed this work's authenticity. It is registered in the archive of the Lyonel Feininger Project under the number 1869-09-05-23. Accompanied by the certificate.

PROVENANCE: Alois Jakob Schardt, Halle, Berlin & Los Angeles (until 1955)
Private collection (inherited from the above).
Private collection Achim Moeller (acquired from the above in 1985).
Private collection Italy (Christie's 2006).

EXHIBITION: Opere dalle collezioni private italiane, MArt Museo d'Arte Moderna, Rovereto May 19 - July 29, 2007, cat. no. 4.6, fig. p. 147.

LITERATURE: Chistie's London, Impressionist and modern works on paper, February 9, 2006, lot 632 (fig.).

In good condition. Minimally discolored. Left margin minimally creased. With partly faded date and a loss in upper right margin above the image.