Student Artwork Guide
Copyright This work is in the public domain. Anton von Werner died in 1915; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 1985.
In context
Exitium — Anton von Werner
Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 72 at death.
Shaded: the lifetime of Anton von Werner (1843–1915) every dated painting, decade by decade
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Measured from the image
Main colour
Khaki #ecd890
Catalogued palette
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The ten leading countries
Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.
Together these works take 65.4% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 99 works by this artist, of which 39 were looked at at least once. This painting ranks 7 of them, with 3.7% of that attention. The same counts, month by month
Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.
Artist and museum
Born in Frankfurt, Germany
Born: Frankfurt (Oder), Germany, May 9, 1843
Died: Berlin, Germany, January 4, 1915
Family Background: Son of a carpenter; his family was ennobled in 1701.
Early Training: Began an apprenticeship as a decorative painter in 1857.
Formal Education: Studied at the Prussian Academy of Arts in Berlin (1860-1862) and then at the Academy of Fine Arts in Karlsruhe (1862-1866).
Karlsruhe Influences: Studied under Johann Wilhelm Schirmer, Ludwig des Coudres, Adolf Schroedter, and Karl Friedrich Lessing. Met with artists like Eduard Devrient, Johannes Brahms, Paul Heyse, and Hans Gude.
Early Influences: Visited Paris in 1865 and 1867, influenced by the history paintings of Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, Eugène Delacroix, Ernest Meissonier, and Léon Cogniet.
Italian Period: Spent time in Rome (1868-1869) with Anselm Feuerbach.
Franco-Prussian War Commissions: Witnessed and documented the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871), receiving commissions to immortalize key events.
Major Works:
Capitulation of Sedan
Proclamation of the German Empire at Versailles – A pivotal work that established his fame.
Moltke before Paris
Moltke at Versailles
The Meeting of Bismarck and Napoleon III
Decorations for the Berlin Victory Column (including a large velarium and stained glass mosaics)
Style: Primarily known for his history paintings depicting political and military events. His style is characterized by realism and attention to detail, reflecting the Naturalist movement.
Professor at the Berlin Academy (1873).
Director of the Prussian Academy of Arts (1875-1890).
Tutor to Emperor William II: Mentored the emperor in painting.
Director of the National Gallery in Berlin (1909-1915).
Honors and Awards: Received numerous awards, including the Order of the Red Eagle First Class with ribbon and the title of Councillor First Class.
Royal Patronage: Enjoyed close relationships with Kaiser Wilhelm I, Frederick III, and Wilhelm II, receiving significant patronage and commissions.
Wilhelmine Period Protagonist: Considered a leading figure in Wilhelmine art, reflecting the era's focus on militarism, nationalism, and imperial grandeur.
Documentation of Historical Events: His paintings provide valuable visual records of significant events in German history, particularly the Franco-Prussian War.
Critical Reception: While popular during his lifetime, his work faced criticism later for its perceived lack of artistic depth and overly realistic style. Some critics viewed it as propagandistic rather than purely artistic.
Post-War Reputation: His association with the monarchy led to a decline in popularity after World War I, particularly under National Socialist regimes.
Continued Artistic Activity: Despite changing tastes, Werner remained active until his death.
Retrospective Exhibition: A major retrospective exhibition was held in 1913 to celebrate his 70th birthday, though it was ultimately cancelled due to disagreements over the exhibition's content.
Death: Died in Berlin on January 4, 1915, and was interred at the Alter Zwölf-Apostel-Kirchhof.
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Look closely
Exitium — Anton von Werner
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The colors of "Exitium" by Anton von Werner show a strong color unity harmony. Harmony describes how the colors relate to each other.
"Exitium" by Anton von Werner is in the public domain - its copyright has expired. Copyright duration runs from the artist's death, which occurred in 1915.