Portraitist Biedermeier
Paul Walter Ehrhardt was a German painter of the Munich School. Paul W. Ehrhardt studied with Max Thedy at the Grand Ducal Saxon Art School in Weimar and with Paul Hoecker at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich. From 1906 he exhibited regularly in the Munich Glass Palace and at the Great Berlin Art Exhibition. Ehrhardt painted atmospheric Biedermeier interiors in muted tones. During the Nazi regime he was one of the most sought-after artists. Except for 1938, from 1937 to 1944 he was represented with 19 paintings at seven Great German Art Exhibitions in Munich, of which Hitler acquired three and the Nazi leader Joachim von Ribbentrop one. His works were represented at auctions until 2006.
Woldemar Hau (Russian: Владимир Иванович Гау) was a Baltic German portrait painter, renowned for his contributions to the Biedermeier style, a period marked by a sense of realism and simplicity in art. Born in 1816 in Tallinn, then part of the Russian Empire, he was trained under the guidance of his father, Johannes Hau, and the distinguished artist Karl von Kügelgen. Hau's remarkable talent became evident early on when, at just sixteen, he was recommended to paint for the Russian Imperial Court, leading to his appointment as a Court Painter.
During his illustrious career, Hau captured the visages of the Russian nobility, including Tsar Nicholas I and Tsarina Alexandra Fyodorovna, alongside other key figures of his time. His works, often characterized by their intricate detail and vibrant realism, include over 200 miniature portraits of the Izmaylovsky Regiment veterans. His most celebrated works are preserved in prestigious collections and reflect his mastery in both watercolours and miniatures on ivory.
For those interested in exploring the legacy of Woldemar Hau, his paintings are a fascinating window into the cultural and historical nuances of 19th-century aristocratic Russia. To stay updated on exhibitions and auctions featuring Hau's work, I encourage you to sign up for updates. This subscription will keep you informed about new sales and auction events specifically related to Woldemar Hau.
Johann Peter Krafft was a German and Austrian painter of the mid-nineteenth century. He is known as a painter and graphic artist who specialized in genre, battle, portraiture and history painting. Krafft is believed to have had a significant influence on Austrian painting and was a leading portraitist of the Neoclassical style in Vienna. He later influenced the development of genre painting during the Viennese Biedermeier period.
Krafft co-founded the Vienna Artists' Union and was elected to the council of the Vienna Academy of Art in 1835. The artist also acted as a consultant for the protection of cultural monuments at Karlstein Castle in Bohemia.
Johann Dietrich Carl Kreul was a German genre and portrait painter and inventor of the paint rubbing machine for artists' oil paints. In 1838, he founded the first German artists' paint factory, C. Kreul, which today operates under the name C. Kreul Gmbh & Co. KG and operates under the KREUL brand.
Peter Mayr was a German artist, born in 1758 in Freiburg/Breisgau and active until his death in 1836 in Munich. He was renowned for his miniature paintings, a craft in which he demonstrated exceptional skill and artistry. Peter Mayr's works were primarily executed in gouache and watercolor, showcasing his ability to capture intricate details and convey the essence of his subjects on a miniature scale.
His works, such as "Dancing peasants before a tavern" and classical representations like "Venus and Cupid" and "Reclining Venus," reveal his versatility and the influence of other artists, like David Teniers, in his creations. These artworks not only highlight his proficiency in miniature painting but also his engagement with various themes and subjects, ranging from everyday scenes to classical motifs.
Peter Mayr's art has been valued and auctioned at various reputable platforms, emphasizing his significance in the art world. His miniatures, often set in elaborate frames and executed with precision, are collected and admired for their historical and artistic value.
Collectors and art enthusiasts continue to celebrate Peter Mayr's contributions to miniature painting, and his works remain a testament to his skill and dedication to this intricate art form. For updates on new discoveries or auction events related to Peter Mayr's works, sign up for our newsletter to stay informed.
Julius Schoppe was a German painter of the mid-nineteenth century. He is known as a painter and graphic artist, famous for his portraits during the Biedermeier era.
Julius Schoppe studied Italian art in Rome and copied works by Raphael, Titian and Correggio. His copies of Raphael's paintings were included in the collection of the King of Prussia and were exhibited in Sans Souci. The master was also the author of landscapes, historical and genre paintings, as well as an original series of "living paintings" that were admired for their grace and painterly authenticity. He was a professor at the Berlin Academy of Fine Arts.
Adolph Friedrich Erdmann von Menzel was a German Realist artist noted for drawings, etchings, and paintings. Along with Caspar David Friedrich, he is considered one of the two most prominent German painters of the 19th century, and was the most successful artist of his era in Germany. First known as Adolph Menzel, he was knighted in 1898 and changed his name to Adolph von Menzel.
His popularity in his native country, owing especially to his history paintings, was such that few of his major paintings left Germany, as many were quickly acquired by museums in Berlin. Menzel's graphic work (and especially his drawings) were more widely disseminated; these, along with informal paintings not initially intended for display, have largely accounted for his posthumous reputation.
