A beautiful original hand colored etching of Venice Italy and Sail Boats, Gondolas and St Mark's Basilica in the distance by Franz Xavier Wolf. Signed lower right in pencil and presented framed in a vintage period frame measuring overall 20" x 24". Franz Xavier Wolf was born on 11 June 1896 in Vienna, Austria to Franz Wolf and Josefa König. Although little has been discovered about his early life, he is known to have attended the Fine Art Academy in Vienna before moving to Germany to study at the Munich Academy. It is possible that he was related to the painter and lithographer Franz Wolf (1795-1859) as their work shares some similarities. He was part of the Munich School of genre and landscape painters and became known for his highly detailed genre paintings featuring clerics or figures in costumes. In addition to genre subjects he also painted still lifes, usually of flowers. As well as working in oil, he was also a skilled engraver and produced a number of etchings. Wolf married Maria Albertine Zlepnig on 20 March, 1928 and together they lived in Vienna. He lived at a number of addresses including 10 Lerchengasse and 7 Heiliggeistrasse. By 1955, he had settled at 33 Castellezgasse and was still earning his living as a successful artist. His work can be found in many private and public collections including Berlin and Vienna museums.