Gerhard Richter painted Portrait Schmela III after a snapshot taken at the opening of his first solo exhibition at Galerie Schmela. Transferred to the canvas in tones of black, white, and gray and with smeared contours, the portrait appears like a slightly blurred photograph. Its effect is, however, enhanced by the particular harmony of the colors and the chosen detail: The gallerist is presented as an impressive personality, as he was indeed perceived by his contemporaries. The picture was donated by Viktoria von Flemming to the Freunde in 2014. It is the most generous gift the Freunde have received until then.