Stainer-Knittel, Anna#
Stainer-Knittel, Anna, b. Elbigenalp (Tirol), July 28, 1840, d. Wattens (Tirol), Feb. 28, 1915, portrait and flower painter, known under the name of "Geierwally". As a young girl she showed great courage, when she twice took young eagles out of their nest and recorded her behaviour in pictures; early exponent of women´s emancipation in the field of art. Became known esp. by the novel "Geierwally" (1876) by Wilhelmine von Hillern, which was the basis for two films, with Heidemarie Hatheyer (1943) and with Barbara Ruetting (1946/47). The opera "La Wally" by Alfredo Catalani was first staged in 1892; F. Mitterer adapted its contents for a folk play. Geierwally open air festivals ("Geierwally-Freilichtspiele") featuring works by F. Mitterer are performed in Elbigenalp.