It came to the Milwaukee Public Library in 1972 from the collection of René Von Schleinitz. It was the only item from his “significant collection of German steins, figurines and genre paintings” to go the library. The rest was donated to the Milwaukee Art Museum, including other images of his featuring readers and scholars.
Now the library is seriously considering an offer of $400,000 from an undisclosed party for the painting. It is called Der Bucherworm “The Bookworm” and was painted by Carl Spitzweg around 1853. It is by far Sptizweg’s most famous work and has become one of the most well-known biblio-images on the planet.
More here: Milwaukee Public Library may sell famous ‘Bookworm’ painting by Carl Spitzweg – Journal Sentinel