15.75 x 12.5 in (40 x 31.8 cm) including frame
The Gypsies demonstrates Jacobi's move towards a more romanticized and painterly style. The composition features a group of figures gathered in a densely wooded glade. Jacobi utilizes a dark, earthy palette of deep greens and browns, contrasted by a luminous, hazy light filtering through the central canopy of trees. The application of paint is loose and textural, prioritizing the overall atmosphere and the play of light over precise figurative detail. This work reflects the 19th-century European tradition of depicting nomadic or pastoral life within a sheltered, natural setting.
Private Collection, Winnipeg
(Includes Buyer's Premium)
Otto Jacobi
Otto Reinhold Jacobi was a prominent 19th-century painter whose work helped define the landscape tradition in Canada during the late Victorian era. Born in Königsberg, Prussia, on February 27, 1812, he received formal artistic training at the Berlin Academy of Arts and later at the Düsseldorf Art Academy under Johann Wilhelm Schirmer. Before immigrating to North America, Jacobi established a successful career in Europe, serving as a court painter to the Duchess of Nassau in Wiesbaden for approximately two decades.
Jacobi arrived in Canada in 1860, initially traveling to Montreal on a commission to paint Shawinigan Falls for a presentation to the Prince of Wales during his royal tour. He chose to remain in Canada, settling in Montreal where he became an active participant in the city's artistic community. Throughout the 1860s, he traveled extensively along the St. Lawrence and Ottawa rivers, producing landscapes and genre scenes in both oil and watercolour. His technical approach, influenced by his European academic background, emphasized atmospheric effects and idealized vistas, often focusing on waterfalls and mountain scenery.
In 1876, Jacobi was admitted to the Ontario Society of Artists (OSA) and subsequently moved between Toronto and Montreal, playing a significant role in the institutionalization of Canadian art. He was a founding member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (RCA) in 1880, serving as its president from 1890 to 1893. In addition to his studio practice, he contributed to art education in Toronto, serving as an instructor at the Ontario School of Art.
Jacobi continued to paint and exhibit until his later years. He passed away on February 8, 1901, in Jarva, South Dakota, while visiting his son. Today, his work is held in the permanent collections of major public institutions, including the National Gallery of Canada, the Art Gallery of Ontario, and the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec. His legacy remains tied to his transition from European court painter to a central figure in the development of Canadian landscape painting.
Major Spring Fine Art Auction
May 7 - May 28, 2026
212 McDermot Ave, Winnipeg MB
(204) 255-5690
mayberryfineart.com
[email protected]
Contact us to make an appointment to preview this item or to sell similar works.
|
Bidding Range
|
Increment
|
|---|---|
| $0.00 - $50.00 | $1.00 |
| $50.00 - $100.00 | $5.00 |
| $100.00 - $500.00 | $10.00 |
| $500.00 - $1,000.00 | $25.00 |
| $1,000.00 - $5,000.00 | $50.00 |
| $5,000.00 - $10,000.00 | $100.00 |
| $10,000.00 - $20,000.00 | $200.00 |
| $20,000.00 - $50,000.00 | $500.00 |
| $50,000.00 - $100,000.00 | $1,000.00 |
| $100,000.00+ | $5,000.00 |
Login or register a BidLots.com account to participate in any auction. Track specific lots and artists with real-time notifications on all bidding activity.
Bidding approval requires three simple steps:
1. Create a Bid Lots account
2. Confirm your email address
3. Create a valid billing profile
Bid Lots and/or the auctioneer may choose to revoke your bidding privileges if your account is not in good standing or your activity is in conflict with our standard terms and conditions of sale.
The buyer’s premium is an additional percentage charged to the winning bidder. The buyer’s premiums may vary from auction to auction, typically ranging from 10% to 20%. Buyer’s premiums will be displayed on detailed lot listings and paddle registration forms.
Bidding begins at the reserve price and advances at set increments based on the bidding range. The specific bidding increments may vary from auction to auction, however the next bid and subsequent increments will always be clearly defined on detailed lot listings. Maximum Bids and Single Bids can only be placed within the pre-defined bidding increments ensuring that no two bidders can place identical bids on an item. View individual lot detail pages to see a complete range of bidding increments for that item.
Requests to cancel a single bid are at the sole descretion of the auctioneer. Maximum bids can be increased but cannot be decreased unless premitted by the auctioneer. Requests to cancel a bid or to alter a maximum bid will be denied if the specific lot is scheduled to close in less than 24 hours or if the lot has significant interest or activity.
To request that a bid be cancelled or to change a maximum bid use the "Ask a question" button on the detailed lot listing.
You will receive an email notification when you have successfully won an auction. You will also see the item listed on your "Bidding Results" page and if you are logged into the site you will see a highlighted message on the auction catalogue pages and auction listings.
Shipping requirements may vary on different items depending on location and size or weight of an item. When registering for a specific auction you will be provided options to clarify your preferred shipping instructions. The auctioneer will also review and provide specific shipping quotes or options following the close of an auction. If you have specific shipping requirements or are unsure of the shipping constraints on a specific item please contact the auctioneer prior to bidding.
Following the close of an auction the auctioneer will provide a detailed invoice for all items you have won. They may contact you before a final invoice is prepared to confirm or review specific shipping instructions. Payment is due once a final invoice is provided and can be submitted online by credit card, or made by EFT (Electronic Fund Transfer), bank draft or international wire transfer. Any outstanding balance will be automatically charged to your registered credit card 5 days following the close of an auction.