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Franz Seraph von Lenbach was a German painter who was mainly known for his portraits of important personalities from the aristocracy, politics and industry. Because of his position in society and his lifestyle he was often called "the Munich painter prince". During his lifetime Lenbach was one of the most famous painters in the German-speaking world.
Lenbach was born in Schrobenhausen, where his father was master mason. He also trained as a mason, but from 1852 he attended the Polytechnic School in Augsburg. In his free time he occupied himself with painting. From 1854 Lenbach attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich. Also during this time he occupied himself with painting in his free time. He quickly became quite good, so that he was able to finance his studies with painting. Today it seems rather unusual to paint targets for shooting festivals, but in fact this work earned him a lot of money. In 1860 Lenbach became professor at the art school in Weimar. During this time he developed his own style of portraiture, which emphasized the personal aspects of the person portrayed rather than their social status.
After one and a half years Lenbach resigned in Weimar. He wanted to learn before he could teach. The farewell to Weimar also meant his departure from landscape painting. Lenbach travelled to Italy and Spain. In 1868 he returned to Munich and now devoted himself entirely to his career as a portrait painter. Soon he achieved his breakthrough, both artistically and financially. He painted portraits of the German and Austrian emperors and the pope, for example, but also immortalised the new moneyed aristocracy. In 1874 Lenbach met Otto von Bismarck; a lifelong bond developed. The more than 80 portraits Lenbach von Bismarck painted still shape the image of the Imperial Chancellor today.
Lenbach's elaborate lifestyle took its toll. Villas and palace floors wanted to be financed, and so in the 1890s he threw himself into a veritable mass production of portraits, which he increasingly made on the basis of photographs. During this time, there was also increased criticism of Lenbach's fundamental view of art. Lenbach became involved in politics - as a friend of Bismarck - and he was also active as a functionary in the Munich cultural scene. Lenbach died in 1904 in Munich, where he is buried in the Westfriedhof cemetery.
Franz Seraph von Lenbach was a German painter who was mainly known for his portraits of important personalities from the aristocracy, politics and industry. Because of his position in society and his lifestyle he was often called "the Munich painter prince". During his lifetime Lenbach was one of the most famous painters in the German-speaking world.
Lenbach was born in Schrobenhausen, where his father was master mason. He also trained as a mason, but from 1852 he attended the Polytechnic School in Augsburg. In his free time he occupied himself with painting. From 1854 Lenbach attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich. Also during this time he occupied himself with painting in his free time. He quickly became quite good, so that he was able to finance his studies with painting. Today it seems rather unusual to paint targets for shooting festivals, but in fact this work earned him a lot of money. In 1860 Lenbach became professor at the art school in Weimar. During this time he developed his own style of portraiture, which emphasized the personal aspects of the person portrayed rather than their social status.
After one and a half years Lenbach resigned in Weimar. He wanted to learn before he could teach. The farewell to Weimar also meant his departure from landscape painting. Lenbach travelled to Italy and Spain. In 1868 he returned to Munich and now devoted himself entirely to his career as a portrait painter. Soon he achieved his breakthrough, both artistically and financially. He painted portraits of the German and Austrian emperors and the pope, for example, but also immortalised the new moneyed aristocracy. In 1874 Lenbach met Otto von Bismarck; a lifelong bond developed. The more than 80 portraits Lenbach von Bismarck painted still shape the image of the Imperial Chancellor today.
Lenbach's elaborate lifestyle took its toll. Villas and palace floors wanted to be financed, and so in the 1890s he threw himself into a veritable mass production of portraits, which he increasingly made on the basis of photographs. During this time, there was also increased criticism of Lenbach's fundamental view of art. Lenbach became involved in politics - as a friend of Bismarck - and he was also active as a functionary in the Munich cultural scene. Lenbach died in 1904 in Munich, where he is buried in the Westfriedhof cemetery.