“Bares for Rares”
“I have to digest that first”: Virginal Venus upsets Horst Lichter
The painting of Venus has done “Bares for Rares” presenter Horst Lichter.
© ZDF
The oversized painting does not fit into her attic apartment, which is why Verena Herwig would like to make money on “Bares für Rares”. Horst Lichter is particularly fond of one detail.
Verena and Andreas Herwig drag a huge painting from Göppingen to “Bares für Rares”. Verena once inherited it from her grandfather. But because she lives in a small attic apartment, she has no use for the oversized oval ham. But what kind of picture is that anyway?
“It was an over door, a decorative shape above the door,” explains Bianca Berding. The work is designed to be viewed from the distance and from below. What she means by that: “When the painting hangs high, the perspective of the table top is shortened and you can see much more of the structure towards the figures.”
The painter is Jakob Friedrich Weckherlin, who lived from 1761 to 1814. There are very few biographical facts about him, explains Berding. But one detail arouses the interest of Horst Lichter: Weckherlin, explains the art expert, was a student at the famous Karlsschule in Stuttgart. Even at the same time as the famous poet Friedrich Schiller – whom he also portrayed. Then the moderator gets a gasp: “That’s unbelievable. I’m completely flat. I have to digest it first.”
Another bidding battle at “Bares for Rares”
Bianca Berding provides further information about the painting: It was made around 1780 and shows the virgin Venus in the workshop of her husband Vulcanus as she asks for armor for her son Aeneas.
But what is the painting worth anyway? Saleswoman Verena Herwig doesn’t want to sell it for less than 750 euros. That should be feasible. Because expert Berding refers to the damage and emphasizes that the work has painterly defects. Nevertheless, she estimates the piece at 1400 to 1700 euros. “Okay, wow.”
Julian Schmitz-Avila opens the round of bidders with his first bid of 500 euros. The bids quickly exceed the 1,000 euro threshold. “That will be my most expensive picture in the erotic room,” says Waldi as he throws 1300 euros into the room. But the other dealers don’t allow him to have fun. Fabian Kahl has the last word with 1500 euros.
The seller thus achieves twice the minimum price she previously set. Great deal. Or as her father put it afterwards: “Successful all round.”
source: “Bares for Rares” in the ZDF media library