Barbara Regina Dietzsch (German, 1706-1783) gouache or opaque watercolor on laid paper painting depicting a bird on a branch, against a dark background. The sheen of the eye of the bird and specific black feathers suggest the artist used gum arabic to create a realistic texture and sense of dimension. Unsigned. 10 1/8" D (26.5 cm) x 8 1/8"D (21 cm). Framed under glass in a later molded wood frame with paper pasted en verso stating the work was "bought at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts Nov. 10, 1965" with possible accession number L.65.221.20. Frame – 17" H x 14 1/2"L.

Biography: Painter and printmaker Barbara Regina Deitzch was born in Nuremberg. Her father Johann Israel was an artist employed by the City Courts, along with her brother Johann Christoph, and sister Margareta. Deitzsch became prominent for her small gouache and watercolor paintings depicting animals and plants, as well as engravings she made based on her own paintings. Her work is in the collections of the Staatliche Museum zu Berlin, Germanisches National Museum in Nuremberg, Stadel Museum in Frankfurt, the Staatliche Graphische Sammlung Munchen, the British Museum, the Rijksmuseum, and a handful of American institutions, including the Baltimore Museum of Art, which recently acquired two of her botanical paintings.

PROVENANCE: Private Nashville collection, by descent from collectors in Minneapolis.

CONDITION: Overall good condition. Some scattered tiny spots of exfoliation, particularly to lower left corner; pinholes at each corner; foxing and toning visible en verso along with some tape losses and residue at corners. G4 or J4 inscription in pencil en verso.