Late 19th century German oil painting by listed artist Josef Schmitzberger (1851 - 1940), widely known for his wildlife paintings. Oil on canvas. Titled: Der Treiber (The Driver). In a drive hunt, "drivers" with or without dogs spread out across a field or woods and walk relatively quietly through the hunted area, in order to bring the wild animals out of cover. Here the driver is depicted carrying the days hunt on his back, a stag deer, accompanied by hunting dogs, including two dachshunds and an English pointer as they make their way across a meadow. Signed lower left: J Schmitzberger, München. Signed lower right in bolder script: Schmitzberger. The back with a written notation of the artist name and title, Schmitzberger J and Der Treiber. Housed in an ornate gilt wood and gesso frame. Frame measures 14 3/8" x 12 3/8" x 1 7/8" deep. Canvas measures 10 1/4" x 8 1/4". In overall good antique condition with scattered areas of paint loss to the painting, mostly notably in the sky area. Possible in painting along the bottom edge. The frame with some losses to the gesso. The animal painter, Josef Schmitzberger was born in Munich as the son of an engraver of gemstones and received his training at the school of the Kunstgewerbeverein (association of arts and crafts) as well as the Munich Academy. His main subjects were wild animals in their natural surroundings, cats and dogs, and hunting. This painting is shown in the 1894 Munich Annual Exhibition Glass Palace catalog by photographed by the celebrated photographer Franz Hanfstengl (1804-1877).