Wilhelm Trübner – Caesar am Rubicon

German artist Wilhelm Trübner was a realist painter who stood at the crossroads of a shift in German art from realism to something freer, subtler and more ironic. His 1878 oil on canvas piece titled Caesar am Rubicon playfully engages a historic metaphor: a mastiff named Caesar stares at sausages on a table under a title that nods to bold historical reckoning (“the die is cast”).  

It’s quirky and paradoxical: a mundane still life elevated by an ironic classical reference. In his own terms, it’s “gallery wall decor” that prompts a smile and a double‑take. Trübner was not a highly celebrated mainstream artist by any stretch, but this hidden gem persists as a unique option for the dining rooms of dog lovers and history lovers alike.

Details:

• Artist: Wilhelm Trübner
• Year: 1878
• Size: 11”x14” frame with apx 7.25”x9” image cutout in custom matting
• Materials: 4-ply acid-free matboard with cream wood pulp fiber core; 120# Matte Cover Paper; Minimalist plastic frame with high quality glass front (an ideal blend for lightweight shipping and hanging with minimal glare!) 
• Museum reproduction sourced from the archives of The Belvedere in Vienna, Austria
• Part of Clutterbutter’s core collection of hand-framed archival art prints