Makart, Hans#

b. Salzburg, May 28, 1840, d. Vienna, Oct. 3, 1884, history and portrait painter. Studied at the Vienna Academy and in Munich under K. von Piloty. Studied in London, Paris and Italy. 1869 was called back to Vienna, where he was assigned an atelier paid by the State. 1875/76 with F. von Lenbach, C. R. Huber and L. C. Mueller in Egypt, from 1878 onwards Professor of History Painting at the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts. 1879 for the Silver Wedding of the Imperial couple he organized the triumphal pageant in Vienna, from 1881 onwards worked on the design of the Staircase of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna and on the bedroom of Empress Elisabeth in the Hermesvilla in the "Lainzer Tiergarten" recreation area. His colossal paintings show the influence of the decorative paintings of the French school (T. Couture, E. Delacroix) and are inspired, like his portraits, by P. P. Rubens, Titian and P. Veronese. M. was the most important representative of the "gesamtkunstwerk" of late Historicism in Vienna and had great influence on the other arts. His work is characterized by the "mania for colour" typical of his age, by theatrical poses, lush sensual colours and the predominance of decorative elements. From 1870 to 1880 his atelier was the centre of social life in Vienna. His festivities, like his love for decoration (M. hat, M. collar, M. bouquet) became life-style features of Vienna's high society. His preference for works on a monumental scale - including some architectural designs - was responsible for the fact that few of his projects were ever executed. Despite his early death his work had a long-lasting effect, especially on G. Klimt and others.

Literature#