Franz anton maulbertsch biography of william

Franz Anton Maulbertsch

German late Baroque artist
Date of Birth: 07.06.1724
Country: Austria

Content:
  1. Biography of Franz Anton Maulbertsch
  2. Education and Early Career
  3. Professorship and Recognition
  4. Major Works
  5. Later Career

Biography of Franz Anton Maulbertsch

Introduction

Franz Anton Maulbertsch was a German artist of the late Baroque period known for his unique style. He was born into an artistic family, as his father, Anton Maulbertsch, was also a painter.

Education and Early Career

From 1739 to 1741, Franz Anton studied at the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts under Jacob van Schuppen. In 1750, he won first prize in a competition among the academy's artists. Maulbertsch drew inspiration from Italian masters as well as Rembrandt, whose copper engravings he was familiar with.

Professorship and Recognition

In 1757, Maulbertsch was recommended for the position of professor at the Vienna Academy, but his candidacy was rejected due to his "too bold spirit." It was not until 1770 that he was appointed as a councilor of the Academy.

Major Works

One of Maulbertsch's significant works from 1750 to 1751 is the large oil painting "The Triumph of Truth over Time," which was intended for the ceiling of the Kirchstetten palace's grand hall. His first commission for dome frescoes in the Vienna Piarist Church in 1752 became one of his main achievements. The central scene depicts the Assumption of Mary, with scenes from the Old and New Testaments on the sides. The figures are interconnected, forming waves. The composition emphasizes color over contour, a departure from the precision in the works of Daniel Gran, early Paul Troger, and later Classicism.

Later Career

During the 1750s to 1760s, Maulbertsch primarily worked in eastern Austria-Hungary. He created impressive frescoes for the Cathedral of Vác, as well as frescoes in the castles of Ebenfurt and Halbturn, and the pilgrimage churches in Herzogenburg, Schwechat, and Zemeg. In 1758, Maulbertsch completed an altarpiece depicting the Assumption of Mary for the monastery in Mainz, which is now preserved in the Church of St. Quentin in Mainz.