Scottsdale Art Auction
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Spring 2026 | Session 2 (Lots 196-462)

Sat, Apr 11, 2026 03:00AM EDT
  2026-04-11 03:00:00 2026-04-11 03:00:00 America/New_York Scottsdale Art Auction Scottsdale Art Auction : Spring 2026 | Session 2 (Lots 196-462) https://bid.scottsdaleartauction.com/auctions/scottsdale-art-auction/spring-2026-session-2-lots-196-462-22666
This will be a two-day auction April 10th and 11th, 2026 featuring over 400 works. All lots displayed and open to the public for viewing beginning March 23, 2026 in our state-of-the-art exclusive showroom in Scottsdale, Arizona. Private viewing can be arranged by calling (480) 945-0225 or email info@scottsdaleartauction.com. Scottsdale Art Auction miranda@scottsdaleartauction.com
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Wilhelm Kuhnert (1865-1926) 21 1/4 x 33 1/2 inches
Lot 274

Wilhelm Kuhnert (1865-1926) 21 1/4 x 33 1/2 inches

Estimate: $50,000 - $70,000
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Starting Bid
$35,000
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Artist: Wilhelm Kuhnert Title: Steppenbrand Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 21 1/4 x 33 1/2 inches Signed: Signed lower left Verso: Troot Lutz Hek verso Framed/Base: 31 x 43 inches

Condition

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This lot's overall appearance is Good. For more details please view the attached Condition Report.

Condition Reports are for guidance only and should not be relied upon as statements of fact, and do not constitute a representation, warranty, or assumption of liability by Scottsdale Art Auction. Scottsdale Art Auction strongly encourages in-person inspection of items by the bidder. All lots offered are sold “AS IS”. Please refer to item two (2) in our Terms and Conditions for further information.

Overall Dimensions
Height: 31.00
Width: 43.00

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Provenance:
Private collection, Texas
 
The title of this painting, Steppenbrand, is a German word meaning wildfire, specifically steppe fire or prairie fire. Although a great distance from the fire, the large bull elephant in Kuhnert’s painting is seemingly in distress as it flees the encroaching flames. Elephants can outrun most grass fires, but winds can speed up the spread of the fire and rough terrain can slow the pachyderms. Either can result in elephant deaths. The artist must have known this when he painted Steppenbrand, which uses dark smoke as an ominous adversary lurking on the horizon.
 
Wilhelm Kuhnert is regarded as one of the great wildlife artists, in addition to one of the best painters of large cats, which is how he acquired the nickname Lion. He is part of the “Big Four” of animal artists, which also includes Richard Friese, Bruno Liljefors and Carl Rungius. Born in Germany, Kuhnert studied art in Berlin before traveling to Egypt, East Africa and India. It was on these trips where he honed his skills as an animal painter. Although he painted more than 5,500 paintings, it is thought that less than 1,000 survive today.

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