!!!Waldmüller, Ferdinand Georg

Waldmueller, Ferdinand Georg, b. Vienna, Jan. 15, 1793, 
d. Hinterbruehl near Moedling (Lower Austria), Aug. 23, 1865. 
Painter and writer on art. Studied at the Vienna Academy and also 
taught himself or learned from friends. Travelled between 1814-1817 
and worked as a theatre painter. Returned to Vienna and turned to 
portrait painting, also cultivated other genres and gradually learned 
to reproduce reality ("Die Mutter des Hauptmanns von 
Stierle-Holzmeister", 1819; self-portrait, 1828). From 1830 abandoned 
the French style in favour of lighter brushstrokes. From then also 
worked as a teacher and curator of the Academy Gallery. Reached the 
peak of his portrait painting ability in the 1830s (family portrait 
Dr. Eltz, 1835), after that he temporarily concentrated on still-life, 
but genre paintings and landscape paintings again became dominant. He 
elevated genre-painting to a new dimension by adding historical and 
religious elements without shying away from social criticism. At the 
same time he dealt with problems of light and space, based on Dutch 
examples and his numerous trips to Italy. His works ("Der Notverkauf", 
"Fronleichnamsmorgen", both 1857; "Die Klostersuppe", 1858), 
characterised by sharp contrast of (sun) light-shadow and dramatic 
arrangements are considered classics. In his later works colourful, 
vibrant accents were added ("Vorfruehling im Wienerwald", 1861). His 
brilliantly realist rather than sensitive depiction met with criticism 
from his contemporaries. Finally, in 1856 he achieved international 
recognition in London. As one of the most versatile and open-minded 
artists of his time, he laid important foundations for future 
developments, while still remaining loyal to tradition and to the old 
Viennese school; did not follow the ideals of impressionism. Until 
1851 he taught a large number of private pupils. His professional 
difficulties resulted less from his innovations and reformative ideas, 
which he expressed in a polemic rather than argumentative manner, but 
much more from his unfortunate temperament and behaviour. He suffered 
from a need for recognition and an inferiority complex, which often 
led him to lose control and even become violent in private. For a long 
time his followers believed the role of exaggerated martyrism he had 
created for himself. In 1857 following attacks on the Academy he was 
forced into early retirement on half-pay. In 1864, as a conciliatory 
gesture, his pension was raised to the normal amount, but he was not 
reinstated.

!Publications
Das Beduerfnis eines zweckmaessigeren Unterrichtes, 
1846; Vorschlaege zur Reform der Oesterr.-kaiserl. Akademie der 
bildenden Kunst, 1849; Andeutungen zur Belebung der vaterlaend. 
bildenden Kunst, 1857.

!Literature
B. Grimschitz, F. G. W., 1943; idem, 
F. G. W., 1957; M. Buchsbaum, F. G. W., 1976; 
K. A. Schroeder, F. G. W., exhibition catalogue, Vienna 
1990; R. Feuchtmueller, F. G. W., 1793-1865. Leben - 
Schriften - Werke, 1996.


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