W Koepf

This picture was purchased at auction in the 1970’s in Sacramento. It is signed
W Koepf 35

Does anyone know anything about this artist or this painting?

Don’t know why they are sideways. Hmmmmm

 

Thank you! How did you do that?

 

Ah ... the mysteries of Apple devices ....

 

Thank you I need help. I was pretty certain it was Werner Koepf. Not much written up about him.

 

Isn't that nice? Here's his biography.

Debora

 

OMG Debora, thank you so much! I looked over the years and could never find anything. I took the painting to have it cleaned a few years ago and the person doing the cleaning was very intrigued by the art medium that was used on the painting.

Thanks a million.

 

Look what I found for you! The setting of your painting. United Church of Christ, Derby, Connecticut where, according to the 1940 census, the artist lived with his parents. Their address was 159 Derby Avenue and the church is at 137 Derby Avenue so may very well have been a scene painted from his bedroom window. Googe Maps and Zillow will orient you.

Debora

 

Omg! You are a genius! I can’t ever thank you enough. I am going to take your posts and make sure they are attached to the back of the painting.

I have gone from zero to a million in one night.

 

Pretty similar to my Samsung Android too

 

From above and a mirror image from an upper window from the Koepf home. But holy cow, same houses and church.

 

Deborah,

I did exactly what you said and spent hours with my sister looking at the orientation of the church and house that Werner Koepf lived in and you are 100% correct. The image isn’t a mirror image, he is painting from an upper back window in his house and you can see the hip roof of the house next door. We are looking down the backyards and not the front yard like I first thought. You can literally see every house and roof all the way down the street. My guess is it was winter and the “hanging tree” was a badly pruned tree.

Your discovery has brought our family so much joy. My sister and I spent hours going back and forth trying to figure it all out. My daughter also loves the painting like myself and she was so excited to see the church and the house Werner lived in and where the painting was born.

 

Love the painting, Savannah.

There is a small typo in his biography. He was born in Neckarsulm, not Neckarsulum (no such place).

 

It was a pleasure to be of help, Savannah. Do enjoy your painting; it's a very nice thing to own.

You may want to let the Derby Historical Society know about it they may find it of interest (and perhaps have more information for you.) Their Facebook page seems to be more active than their web site.

https://www.facebook.com/pg/Derby-Historical-Society-233376113344902/posts/

Debora

 

You might want to let the church know as well. Suspect the pastor and his congregation would be interested.

http://uccderbyct.org

Debora

 

Thank you Deborah,

I did contact the church. Good call on the historical society.

 

Do let us know how they respond (if you have time.)

Debora