Gustav Igler, pupil of Waldmüller and Ramberg in Munich, succeeded in creating a picture that is unique in its original depiction and spontaneous observation with the painting “On the donkey bench”. Each boy characterizes another offense that was punished in the village school at the turn of the century. There were strict school rules: The feet of the students must rest with their entire sole on the floor or the footboard. The upper body may be very little inclined forward and not be based on the table edge of the bench. The head should be kept as straight as possible, so that the chin does not touch the breast. All of these principles are disregarded on Igler’s donkey bench. Instead, they sit on the desks or sleep, pepper, read secretly or play cards. Igler’s painting is almost ideally a unity of brilliant painting technique and witty composition. This rare combination predestined the painter for the sophisticated tastes of English and American collectors, who acquired more than half of all works by Igler immediately after their creation.