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000094 J. Muhlthalter(?), Young Woman with Jug, 1878, oil on canvas, 83 × 69 cm

The painting, executed in 1878, is inspired by Baroque art. The painter depicts a young girl in a striking red dress, revealing the upper part of her breasts, adorned with gold chains and jewels. The young woman looks lustfully at the viewer, holding a tall, silver cup in her right hand. Light streams in from the left, illuminating mainly the woman's face and sleeve in a way that recalls Caravaggio and his descendants, the Caravaggisti. All these features point out clearly that the painter is deliberately imitating 17th century painting. However, the way he shapes the young girl's face, his use of colour and drawing betray his education within the academic context of the 19th century: a time when inspiration from the past remains a key component of the educational process, bringing young artists into dialogue with the art of the old masters.