Friedrich Kaulbach
Encyclopedia
Theodor Friedrich Wilhelm Christian Kaulbach (8 July 1822 – 17 September 1903) was a German
painter
from Bad Arolsen
, Hesse
. His father was Christian Kaulbach (1777–1847), a cabinet maker in Arolsen. He was also the cousin and at one time the student of the painter Wilhelm von Kaulbach
, son of Philipp Karl Friedrich v. Kaulbach (1775–1846), goldsmith and amateur painter; Wilhelm's son, Herman Kaulbach (1846–1909); and his own son, Friedrich August von Kaulbach
(1850–1920).
in 1844, he and his uncle parted ways. He painted independently until 1848, when he executed the painting Adam and Eve
beside the body of Abel. This led to a call to a professorship at the Art Academy of Munich, which he declined.
In 1850 he traveled to Paris, where he produced historical paintings, and supported himself through portraiture. In 1850, Maximilian II of Bavaria
commissioned him to paint the Coronation of Charlemagne
for the Museum Maximilianeum
. The picture was completed in 1861.
Kaulbach served as the court painter to King George V
, whom he repeatedly portrayed, where he was a favorite portrait painter of the local nobility. While he was the court painter
to Hanover, he received a professorship at the University of Hanover; among other benefits, the king gave his own studio and residential building, designed by the architect of the Hanoverian Christian Heinrich Tramm 1857-60 on Waterloo Street in Hanover. The house today is part of the Waterloo Beergarden. In her memoirs, his daughter Isidore described the visitors to the family home, who included Johannes Brahms
, Clara Schumann
, Franz Liszt
, Joseph Joachim
, Ernst von Wildenbruch
and Anton Rubinstein
.
His numerous portraits, such as those of the Sissy, the Empress of Austria
, the Crown Prince Albrecht, the Count and Countess Stolberg, are extraordinarily detailed, even luminescent. The best women's portraits have enhanced his reputation. Kaulbach received the Gold Medal from the Berlin Art Academy at the Vienna World Exhibition
of 1873.
Frederick Kaulbach's grave may be found in the town cemetery Engesohde in Hanover
.
Kaulbach's son, Friedrich August von Kaulbach
, was also a painter.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
from Bad Arolsen
Bad Arolsen
Bad Arolsen is a small town in northern Hesse, Germany, in Waldeck-Frankenberg district. From 1655 until 1918 it served as the residence town of the Princes of Waldeck-Pyrmont and then until 1929 as the capital of the Waldeck Free State...
, Hesse
Hesse
Hesse or Hessia is both a cultural region of Germany and the name of an individual German state.* The cultural region of Hesse includes both the State of Hesse and the area known as Rhenish Hesse in the neighbouring Rhineland-Palatinate state...
. His father was Christian Kaulbach (1777–1847), a cabinet maker in Arolsen. He was also the cousin and at one time the student of the painter Wilhelm von Kaulbach
Wilhelm von Kaulbach
Wilhelm von Kaulbach was a German painter, noted mainly as a muralist, but also as a book illustrator. His murals decorate buildings in Munich.-Education:...
, son of Philipp Karl Friedrich v. Kaulbach (1775–1846), goldsmith and amateur painter; Wilhelm's son, Herman Kaulbach (1846–1909); and his own son, Friedrich August von Kaulbach
Friedrich August von Kaulbach
Friedrich August von Kaulbach was a German portraitist and historical painter. He was the son of Theodor Friedrich Wilhelm Christian Kaulbach , the court painter at Hannover, and the great nephew of Wilhelm Kaulbach, another prominent member of the Kaulbach family of artists...
(1850–1920).
Early years
After a visit to VeniceVenice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
in 1844, he and his uncle parted ways. He painted independently until 1848, when he executed the painting Adam and Eve
Adam and Eve
Adam and Eve were, according to the Genesis creation narratives, the first human couple to inhabit Earth, created by YHWH, the God of the ancient Hebrews...
beside the body of Abel. This led to a call to a professorship at the Art Academy of Munich, which he declined.
In 1850 he traveled to Paris, where he produced historical paintings, and supported himself through portraiture. In 1850, Maximilian II of Bavaria
Maximilian II of Bavaria
Maximilian II of Bavaria was king of Bavaria from 1848 until 1864. He was son of Ludwig I of Bavaria and Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen.-Crown Prince:...
commissioned him to paint the Coronation of Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
for the Museum Maximilianeum
Maximilianeum
The Maximilianeum, a palatial building in Munich, was built as the home of a gifted students' foundation and has also housed the Bavarian Landtag since 1949.The principal was King Maximilian II of Bavaria, who started the project in 1857...
. The picture was completed in 1861.
Establishment as court painter in Hannover
Kaulbach served as the court painter to King George V
George V of Hanover
George V was King of Hanover, the only child of Ernest Augustus I, and a grandchild of King George III of the United Kingdom. In the peerage of Great Britain, he was 2nd Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale, 2nd Earl of Armagh...
, whom he repeatedly portrayed, where he was a favorite portrait painter of the local nobility. While he was the court painter
Court painter
A court painter was an artist who painted for the members of a royal or noble family, sometimes on a fixed salary and on an exclusive basis where the artist was not supposed to undertake other work. Especially in the late Middle Ages, they were often given the office of valet de chambre...
to Hanover, he received a professorship at the University of Hanover; among other benefits, the king gave his own studio and residential building, designed by the architect of the Hanoverian Christian Heinrich Tramm 1857-60 on Waterloo Street in Hanover. The house today is part of the Waterloo Beergarden. In her memoirs, his daughter Isidore described the visitors to the family home, who included Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms was a German composer and pianist, and one of the leading musicians of the Romantic period. Born in Hamburg, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna, Austria, where he was a leader of the musical scene...
, Clara Schumann
Clara Schumann
Clara Schumann was a German musician and composer, considered one of the most distinguished pianists of the Romantic era...
, Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt ; ), was a 19th-century Hungarian composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher.Liszt became renowned in Europe during the nineteenth century for his virtuosic skill as a pianist. He was said by his contemporaries to have been the most technically advanced pianist of his age...
, Joseph Joachim
Joseph Joachim
Joseph Joachim was a Hungarian violinist, conductor, composer and teacher. A close collaborator of Johannes Brahms, he is widely regarded as one of the most significant violinists of the 19th century.-Origins:...
, Ernst von Wildenbruch
Ernst von Wildenbruch
Ernst von Wildenbruch was a German poet and dramatist.-Biography:Wildenbruch was born at Beirut in Lebanon, the son of the Prussian consul-general, Ludwig von Wildenbruch...
and Anton Rubinstein
Anton Rubinstein
Anton Grigorevich Rubinstein was a Russian-Jewish pianist, composer and conductor. As a pianist he was regarded as a rival of Franz Liszt, and he ranks amongst the great keyboard virtuosos...
.
His numerous portraits, such as those of the Sissy, the Empress of Austria
Elisabeth of Bavaria
Elisabeth of Austria was the spouse of Franz Joseph I, and therefore both Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary. She also held the titles of Queen of Bohemia and Croatia, among others...
, the Crown Prince Albrecht, the Count and Countess Stolberg, are extraordinarily detailed, even luminescent. The best women's portraits have enhanced his reputation. Kaulbach received the Gold Medal from the Berlin Art Academy at the Vienna World Exhibition
World's Fair
World's fair, World fair, Universal Exposition, and World Expo are various large public exhibitions held in different parts of the world. The first Expo was held in The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London, United Kingdom, in 1851, under the title "Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All...
of 1873.
Frederick Kaulbach's grave may be found in the town cemetery Engesohde in Hanover
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
.
Kaulbach's son, Friedrich August von Kaulbach
Friedrich August von Kaulbach
Friedrich August von Kaulbach was a German portraitist and historical painter. He was the son of Theodor Friedrich Wilhelm Christian Kaulbach , the court painter at Hannover, and the great nephew of Wilhelm Kaulbach, another prominent member of the Kaulbach family of artists...
, was also a painter.
Prominent works
- Adam and Eve by Abel's Body (1848, Museum für Bildende Künste, Leipzig)
- Elisabeth Nay (1860; Niedersächsisches Landesmuseum)
- Coronation of Charlemagne (1861, Maximilaneum, München)
- Juliet Capulet’s Wedding Morning (1862–1903; Niedersächsisches Landesmuseum, Hannover)
- Blind King George V (c. 1866; Hannover, Niedersachs. Landesmuseum)