Biography Emanuel Leutze

1 biography

1.1 philadelphia
1.2 europe
1.3 new york city , washington, d.c.

biography
philadelphia

leutze born in schwäbisch gmünd, württemberg, germany, , brought united states child. parents settled first in fredericksburg, virginia, , @ philadelphia. education good, though not in direction of art. first development of artistic talent occurred while attending sickbed of father, when attempted drawing occupy long hours of waiting. father died in 1831. @ 14, painting portraits $5 apiece. through such work, supported himself after death of father. in 1834, received first instruction in art in classes of john rubens smith, portrait painter in philadelphia. became skilled, , promoted plan publishing, in washington, portraits of eminent american statesmen; however, met slight encouragement.

europe

in 1840, 1 of paintings attracted attention , procured him several orders, enabled him go kunstakademie düsseldorf. due anti-academic attitude, studied 1 year @ academy (in class of director schadow). leutze affected painter lessing. in 1842 went munich, studying works of cornelius , kaulbach, and, while there, finished columbus before queen. following year visited venice , rome, making studies titian , michelangelo. first work, columbus before council of salamanca purchased düsseldorf art union. companion picture, columbus in chains, procured him gold medal of brussels art exhibition, , subsequently purchased art union in new york; basis of 1893 $2 columbian issue stamp. in 1845, after tour in italy, returned düsseldorf, marrying juliane lottner , making home there 14 years.

during years in düsseldorf, resource visiting americans: found them places live , work, provided introductions, , emotional , financial support. many years, president of düsseldorf artists association; in 1848, promoter of “malkasten” art association; , in 1857, led call gathering of artists led founding of allgemeine deutsche kunstgenossenschaft.

a strong supporter of europe s revolutions of 1848, leutze decided paint image encourage europe s liberal reformers example of american revolution. using american tourists , art students models , assistants, leutze finished first version of washington crossing delaware in 1850. after completed, first version damaged fire in studio, subsequently restored, , acquired kunsthalle bremen. on september 5, 1942, during world war ii, destroyed in bombing raid allied forces. second painting, replica of first, , bigger, ordered 1850 parisian art trader adolphe goupil new york branch , placed on exhibition on broadway in october 1851. owned metropolitan museum of art in new york. in 1854, leutze finished depiction of battle of monmouth, washington rallying troops @ monmouth, commissioned important leutze patron, banker david leavitt of new york city , great barrington, massachusetts.

washington crossing delaware (1851)


new york city , washington, d.c.

grave of emanuel leutze @ glenwood cemetery.

in 1859, leutze returned united states , opened studio in new york city. divided time between new york city , washington, d.c. in 1859, painted portrait of chief justice roger brooke taney hangs in harvard law school. in 1992 opinion, justice antonin scalia described portrait of taney, made 2 years after taney s infamous decision in dred scott v. sandford, showing taney in black, sitting in shadowed red armchair, left hand resting upon pad of paper in lap, right hand hanging limply, lifelessly, beside inner arm of chair. sits facing viewer , staring straight out. there seems on face, , in deep-set eyes, expression of profound sadness , disillusionment.

leutze executed other portraits, including 1 of fellow painter william morris hunt. portrait owned hunt s brother leavitt hunt, new york attorney , sometime vermont resident, , shown @ exhibition devoted william morris hunt s work @ museum of fine arts, boston in 1878.

in 1860 leutze commissioned u.s. congress decorate stairway in capitol building in washington, dc, painted large composition, westward course of empire takes way, commonly known westward ho!.

late in life, became member of national academy of design. member of union league club of new york, has number of paintings. died in washington, d.c., in 52nd year, of heatstroke. interred @ glenwood cemetery. @ time of death, painting, emancipation of slaves, in preparation.

leutze s portraits known less artistic quality patriotic emotionalism. washington crossing delaware firmly ranks among american national iconography, , caricatured.