Hans von Aachen ( German: Hans von Aachen ; 1552 , Cologne - March 4, 1615 , Prague ) - German painter and graphic artist. Von Aachen is considered a typical representative of mannerism . His brushes belong mainly allegorical , mythological and religious canvases.
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 Self portrait. OK. 1574. Oil on wood, 51.2 x 36.5 cm. Wallraf-Richartz Museum, Cologne. | |
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| Genre | German painter |
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Biography
He studied painting in Cologne, in the workshop of the now little-known Flemish artist Georg Errich . At the age of 22 years ( 1574 ), in all likelihood, becoming a member of the guild of painters of Cologne, he went to Italy , where he enrolled as a student at Gaspar Rem . Traveling around Italy, Aachen visited Florence , Rome and, possibly, Venice . A great influence on the formation of the work of Aachen and the formation of his mannerist style had the works of Tintoretto and Caravaggio . In addition to these masters, Hans von Aachen throughout his life was influenced by such masters as Bartolomeus Spranger ( 1546 - 1611 ) and Hendrik Goltzius ( 1558 - 1617 ), who dominated the German art scene of that era.
From 1587 to 1596, Aachen worked in Germany, where he gained recognition as a master of fine psychological portraiture, historical and religious painting, working for the aristocratic families of Cologne , the ducal court in Munich and the noble Fugger family in Augsburg . The artist painted several paintings for William (Duke of Bavaria).
The flowering of von Aachen's artistic activity dates back to the history of Rudolfin Prague . In 1592, Hans von Aachen painted an official portrait of Emperor Rudolph II , after which he was proclaimed in absentia by the court artist and invited to Prague (he moved there in 1597 or 1601). This portrait is the most famous image of the emperor. According to historians, von Aachen acted as a trustee of Rudolph II. Probably, this circumstance explains the exact transfer to the canvas of not only the appearance of the portrait, but also the features of his character. By fame, this portrait can only compete with the portrait of Rudolph II by Giuseppe Archimboldo , in which the emperor is represented in the image of the ancient Roman god Vertumna (vegetables, berries and fruits, folded into the image).
In addition to painting, since 1596, Hans von Aachen worked for the Habsburg family as a diplomat and appraiser of works of art. He traveled extensively throughout Europe as part of a diplomatic mission, as well as with the aim of acquiring paintings for the art collection of Rudolph II. In 1594 (or 1605) the artist was granted the title of nobility. In 1596, Hans von Aachen married the daughter of the court composer of the Bavarian Duchy of Orlando di Lasso . In 1601, Hans von Aachen finally moved to Prague and remained there until the end of his days. After the death of Rudolph II in 1612, he became a court painter of Emperor Matthias I.
Hans von Aachen's students were artists such as Peter Isaac and Joseph Heinz . Von Aachen's works were copied by such masters as Wolfgang Kilian , Domenico Cousteau , Jan Sadeler
Creativity
Hans von Aachen gravitated to the image of moving, light silhouettes, to moving, unstable forms, to warm, saturated colors, dating back to the 16th century Venetian school of painting. Engravings based on his work have influenced the painting of Central Europe .
Von Aachen's paintings depicting elegant, elongated figures (as well as the work of his colleague Bartolomeus Spranger ) are examples of the complex art of mannerism, which was then the leading style in the art of Northern Europe . Hans von Aachen painted paintings of mythological, complex allegorical and religious subjects, as well as portraits.
One of the artist’s best works is the painting “The Triumph of Truth and Justice” (the true name is “Allegory of the Triumph of Justice or Victory of Truth under the Protection of Justice”). The main motive of the work is as follows: the naked Truth strives for Justice, which, freeing the Truth from the ferocious lion (personification of evil), contributes to the victory and triumph of Truth.
Also one of the artist’s most famous works is the painting “Bacchus, Ceres and Cupid” (1610. Oil on canvas, 163 x 113 cm. Museum of the History of Art , Vienna ). Hans von Aachen's style combined the idealization inherent in the Roman and Florentine schools of the late Renaissance and mannerism, with a brilliant Venetian flavor and Dutch realism. Hans von Aachen as a painter was especially skilled in portraying playfully erotic nudity. An example is the canvas “Athena, Venus and Juno” (1593. Oil on canvas, 54 x 67 cm. Museum of Fine Arts , Boston ) and others.
In Russia, the work of Hans von Aachen can be found by visiting the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg . The museum’s collection contains such paintings as “The Holy Family” (between 1588 and 1590. Wood, oil, 56.2 x 42.2 cm; entered the Hermitage from the Golitsyn Museum in Moscow in 1886 ) and “Allegory of Peace, Art and Abundance ”( 1602. Oil on canvas, 197 x 142 cm; entered the Hermitage from the museum of the former imperial palace in Gatchina in 1925 ).
Interesting Facts
Experts have found that he painted his painting “Allegory of Peace, Art and Abundance” with a young woman who clearly has breast cancer [7] .
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 3 BNF identifier : Open Data Platform 2011.
- ↑ 1 2 3 Union List of Artist Names
- ↑ 1 2 3 Library of Congress Name Authority File
- ↑ German National Library , Berlin State Library , Bavarian State Library , etc. Record # 118643525 // General Normative Control (GND) - 2012—2016.
- ↑ SNAC - 2010.
- ↑ artist list of the National Museum of Sweden - 2016.
- ↑ Arguments.ru