His pictures are world-famous. They adorn postage stamps and posters, have been copied numerous times and, thanks to Andy Warhol, have even found their way into Pop Art. Joseph Karl Stieler was one of the most respected portrait painters of the 19th century. His subjects included Goethe, Humboldt and Beethoven. He painted the poets and thinkers, the nobility and high society throughout Europe. Anyone who thought anything of himself at the time had himself immortalized by him. Joseph Stieler possessed the unique talent of putting his models in the proverbial right light. He created an ideal image and always presented them from their best side, but without distorting them. The demand for such favorable portraits was enormous: about 500 portraits, mostly of well-known personalities, have survived from him today. However, it was not only his brilliant artistry that helped Stieler to achieve success: he was adept at moving in "high society" and, with his tactful manner, struck exactly the right note to score points with his illustrious clientele. The well-read and musical painter found it easy to establish relationships. He was a welcome guest in elite circles and delighted many a soiree with his sociability.
Joseph Stieler came from a family of artists with a long tradition as heraldic engravers and engravers. His father was a court medalist in the Electorate of Mainz and taught his sons to draw at an early age. When his father died, Stieler, who was just eight years old, began to advance his artistic skills on his own. A few years later, he painted portraits of his family members. He succeeded so brilliantly in portraying his mother and a miniature of his sister that he received his first commissions while still in his teens. Soon he has enough money to continue his education. Stieler completed an apprenticeship with the painter Johann Christoph Fese and then studied at the Academy of Arts in Vienna under Heinrich Füger. After completing his studies, the world was open to him. Equipped with letters of recommendation, Joseph Stieler travels Europe. His references open the doors of noble houses and fill his order book.
The artist's extraordinary talent did not go unnoticed by the Bavarian royal family: Stieler was appointed court painter. He remains it 35 years and serves under three regents. In addition to many paintings of the royal family, he created works by Goethe and Beethoven, among others, during this time. Ludwig I had a special commission for the painter: he wanted a collection of pictures of Munich's female beauties. Thus, 38 striking ladies were chosen to be painted by Joseph Stieler. Among them was Ludwig's mistress, the dancer Lola Montez, whose affair with the king provoked his abdication. The Beauty Gallery occupied Stieler for over two decades and is one of his most famous works. At the age of 73, the painter went into well-deserved retirement and died three years later of pneumonia. Posthumously it became quiet around Joseph Karl Stieler, but he was never forgotten. At the latest on commemorative days - such as the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth, when Stieler's painting was omnipresent around the globe - the gifted portrait painter recalls himself to the memory of the art world.
His pictures are world-famous. They adorn postage stamps and posters, have been copied numerous times and, thanks to Andy Warhol, have even found their way into Pop Art. Joseph Karl Stieler was one of the most respected portrait painters of the 19th century. His subjects included Goethe, Humboldt and Beethoven. He painted the poets and thinkers, the nobility and high society throughout Europe. Anyone who thought anything of himself at the time had himself immortalized by him. Joseph Stieler possessed the unique talent of putting his models in the proverbial right light. He created an ideal image and always presented them from their best side, but without distorting them. The demand for such favorable portraits was enormous: about 500 portraits, mostly of well-known personalities, have survived from him today. However, it was not only his brilliant artistry that helped Stieler to achieve success: he was adept at moving in "high society" and, with his tactful manner, struck exactly the right note to score points with his illustrious clientele. The well-read and musical painter found it easy to establish relationships. He was a welcome guest in elite circles and delighted many a soiree with his sociability.
Joseph Stieler came from a family of artists with a long tradition as heraldic engravers and engravers. His father was a court medalist in the Electorate of Mainz and taught his sons to draw at an early age. When his father died, Stieler, who was just eight years old, began to advance his artistic skills on his own. A few years later, he painted portraits of his family members. He succeeded so brilliantly in portraying his mother and a miniature of his sister that he received his first commissions while still in his teens. Soon he has enough money to continue his education. Stieler completed an apprenticeship with the painter Johann Christoph Fese and then studied at the Academy of Arts in Vienna under Heinrich Füger. After completing his studies, the world was open to him. Equipped with letters of recommendation, Joseph Stieler travels Europe. His references open the doors of noble houses and fill his order book.
The artist's extraordinary talent did not go unnoticed by the Bavarian royal family: Stieler was appointed court painter. He remains it 35 years and serves under three regents. In addition to many paintings of the royal family, he created works by Goethe and Beethoven, among others, during this time. Ludwig I had a special commission for the painter: he wanted a collection of pictures of Munich's female beauties. Thus, 38 striking ladies were chosen to be painted by Joseph Stieler. Among them was Ludwig's mistress, the dancer Lola Montez, whose affair with the king provoked his abdication. The Beauty Gallery occupied Stieler for over two decades and is one of his most famous works. At the age of 73, the painter went into well-deserved retirement and died three years later of pneumonia. Posthumously it became quiet around Joseph Karl Stieler, but he was never forgotten. At the latest on commemorative days - such as the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth, when Stieler's painting was omnipresent around the globe - the gifted portrait painter recalls himself to the memory of the art world.
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