Felix Schlesinger (German, 1833-1910), In the Rabbit Pen. Oil on panel, depicting a genre scene of two children engaged in feeding and tending rabbits within a rustic interior setting. The composition is rich in narrative detail, with careful attention to costume, texture, and animal form, hallmarks of Schlesinger's mature genre work. The girl, shown kneeling and offering food to the rabbits, is balanced compositionally by the standing boy, while the animals themselves are rendered with notable sensitivity and naturalism, reinforcing the intimate, domestic character of the scene.
Felix Schlesinger was a well-regarded German genre painter associated with the Düsseldorf School, known for his finely observed scenes of rural and domestic life, often featuring children and animals. Works of this type were popular with collectors in the late 19th century and were widely exhibited and reproduced. In the Rabbit Pen corresponds to a documented composition by Schlesinger, also known under variant titles such as Feeding the Rabbits, and represents a subject for which the artist is particularly well known.
The painting is housed in an ornate gilt frame consistent with late 19th-century presentation. The reverse bears an old gallery or dealer label indicating "De Mouchelles," dated 1998, suggesting prior handling by the noted New York gallery. Overall condition appears consistent with age, with surface wear and frame wear commensurate with long-term display.
Estimated Value $200 - 300
Judaica
