B. Curn (German, 19th century) Prince of Thoren, German satire, 1876 Oil on canvas 33 x 23-1/2 inches (83.8 x 59.7 cm) Incised with signature and date lower left: B. Curn / 1876 Background: Thoren is a region in former west Prussia, now Poland, which dates back to 1829 - 1878. The painting and inscription describe a drinking game scene that was accompanied by a drinking song. The inscription on the barrel quotes the first verse of this drinking song. A committee executive would be appointed to be the "prince" of Thoren. A beer barrel would be placed in the room and the executive would sit on the beer barrel throne. From there this drinking game would be sung, as beer Steins would be passed to the "prince" one by one by the attendees below him/her. Once a full round of beer had been passed to the price to drink from each beer Stein, as the rest of the crowd would drink along, the "prince" would appoint a successor until the beer barrel is empty or the last "prince" calls quit. The German reads: Ich bin der Fürst von Thoren zum Saufen auserkoren Ihr Andern seid erschienen mich fürstlich zu bedienen The English translation reads: I am the prince of Thoren appointed to get drunk you others have here gathered to serve me royaly Many thanks to Philipp Vargas and Arianne Flick for the information above as well as for the translation from the German. PROVENANCE: Private Collection, New York; Acquired from the above by the present owner, 2016. HID03101062020 © 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved