YULIY KLEVER (1850-1924) Late autumn forest landscape under a full moon signed in Cyrillic and dated '1903 Y Klever' (lower right), inscribed in German 'Wald im Spätherbst / J v Klever' (verso) oil on canvas 113.5 x 77.9 cm painted in 1903 PROVENANCE: Private collection, Munich This atmospheric forest scene by Julius von Klever captures the haunting beauty of a late autumn landscape. Under the pale light of the full moon, the forest takes on a mysterious presence. Tall spruce trees, rendered with Klever's characteristic precision, dominate the composition; their silhouettes are silhouetted against the night sky, with a fallen tree in the foreground. The ground is covered with ochre grass and dead leaves, the last vestiges of the season that is drawing to a close. To the right, two wild boars make their way through the undergrowth - probably added later, a familiar practice in Klever's work - subtly animating the stillness of the scene and adding a narrative dimension. In this painting, Klever combines a romantic mood with detailed observations of nature, capturing the quiet melancholy of the autumn wilderness. Born in Dorpat (now Tartu, Estonia) in 1850 to German parents, Julius von Klever established himself as a master of Russian landscape painting. His early artistic training began under the landscape painter Constantin von Kügelgen, who laid the foundations for his lifelong devotion to nature painting. In 1867, Klever enrolled at the Imperial Academy of Arts in St Petersburg, where he studied architecture and landscape painting under the guidance of such luminaries as Baron Mikhail Klodt and Sokrat Vorobiev. His talent soon made him stand out. By 1873, he was exhibiting regularly and in 1881, aged just 31, he was appointed professor at the Academy, a rare honour at such a young age. Klever's success spread beyond Russia. He took part in major exhibitions in Munich, Paris and Berlin, where he lived and worked after 1905. His international reputation continued to grow and in 1893 he was knighted by Tsar Alexander III, a great collector of Klever's work. Julius von Klever is best known for his evocative landscapes, which balance a faithful representation of nature with a rich, emotional atmosphere. His works often depict deep forests, tranquil rivers and spectacular skies, imbued with an atmosphere of reflection and solitude. At the buyer's request, we are happy to provide a general condition report for the lot described above. However, as we are not professional curators or conservators, we strongly advise prospective buyers to carry out their own inspection or to consult a specialist or conservator of their choice for a full professional assessment. Descriptions of the condition of objects in the catalogue or in any correspondence are given for guidance only and should not be regarded as a substitute for a first-hand valuation. ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD 'AS IS' IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE PUBLISHED IN THE CATALOGUE