Anton (Anthony) Hochstein (American, b. Bavaria, 1830–1909)

“When the Swallows Homeward Fly”

Late 19th Century

Oil on Board

12 x 9 inches

A late 19th-century oil painting captures a poetic moment in nature: a sweeping flight of swallows returning home across a tranquil river landscape. Executed with remarkable sensitivity and movement, the birds arc dynamically across the sky, their wings rendered with confident, naturalistic brushwork that conveys both speed and grace. The atmospheric landscape below—quiet water, distant architecture, and softly modeled hills—serves as a restrained yet lyrical stage for the airborne drama above.

The painting is signed “HOCHSTEIN” and further titled in period lettering “When the Swallows Homeward Fly,” reinforcing its narrative and romantic intent. The verso bears a handwritten inscription identifying A. Hochstein, Hoboken, aligning precisely with the artist’s documented working period and location.

Artist & Context

Anton Hohenstein (1830–1909), later known as Anthony Hochstein, was born in Bavaria and immigrated to the United States in the early-to-mid 1850s. He worked in Philadelphia, was active in New York City by 1859, and later in Hoboken, New Jersey. His name appears in PAFA exhibition records (1865) and National Academy of Design records (1872). Notably, Hochstein painted a portrait of Ulysses S. Grant in 1867, underscoring his standing within serious 19th-century American art circles.

(Sources: Groce & Wallace; Peter Falk, Who Was Who in American Art)

Genre & Appeal

This work sits at the intersection of American landscape painting and natural history art, appealing equally to fine art collectors and bird enthusiasts. While painterly and atmospheric rather than scientific, the handling of avian anatomy and flight places Hochstein in conversation with celebrated bird artists such as John James Audubon, Alexander Wilson, and later figures like Roger Tory Peterson, though filtered through a more romantic, tonal 19th-century lens.

Why its an awesome piece?

Authentic late 19th-century American oil on board

Signed and titled by the artist

Documented artist with institutional exhibition history

Rare bird subject by a known genre and portrait painter

Intimate scale ideal for collectors of period American works

Strong crossover appeal: fine art, nature, ornithology, and Americana

Condition

Consistent with age: scattered surface wear, minor abrasions, and patina typical of 19th-century oil on board. These characteristics contribute to the work’s authenticity and historic presence. Please review all images carefully.

A rare and poetic American bird painting with documented authorship—an excellent opportunity for collectors of 19th-century American art, natural history subjects, and ornithological imagery. Offered at auction.