Simon Meister

1796 - 1844

Quick facts

  • Born: 1796, Koblenz, Germany
  • Top-ranked work: Gertrud Meister
  • Art period: 19th Century
  • Died: 1844
  • Nationality: Germany

The Life and Art of Simon Meister

Born in Koblenz, Simon Meister was the son of a saddler. His early artistic journey likely began with private drawing lessons in his hometown before he traveled to Paris to study painting under Horace Vernet. Following the expiration of a scholarship from Frederick William III of Prussia, he returned to Koblenz in 1828, where he married. His professional life was marked by attempts to secure commissions from the Prussian king and efforts to obtain a position at an academy, though these pursuits were only partially successful despite support from Alexander von Humboldt.

Around 1833, Meister moved with his family to Cologne, where he died in 1844. He is recognized as an important Rhenish painter of the Biedermeier period. His artistic output focused on several distinct subjects, including:

  • Portraits of citizens, such as Johann Baptist Farina and Ludwig Spohr
  • Battle scenes and equestrian portraits
  • Animal fights
  • Depictions of the Cologne Carnival
  • Panoramas, such as the passage of French troops across the Rhine in 1797, which he painted alongside his brother Nikolas

Artistic Legacy and Works

Meister's work was diverse, ranging from self-portraits to significant cultural historical depictions. His brother Nikolas and his nephew Ernst were also painters. Some of his notable compositions include Napoleon zu Pferde and Die Familie Tillmann. His depictions of the Cologne Carnival are significant in terms of cultural history, and several of his paintings were reproduced as lithographs. He is buried at the Melaten Cemetery in Cologne.

Questions & Answers

How popular are Simon Meister's artworks?

A Stats page exists for Simon Meister, presenting statistics about the artist's artworks on this website.

How many artworks by Simon Meister are available to browse?

You can browse 2 artworks by Simon Meister on the All Artworks page.

Is there a complete list of Simon Meister's artworks?

Every work by Simon Meister on this website can be browsed from the artist's All Artworks page.

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To find all works by Simon Meister in a given medium, use the artist's All Medium page.

Quick quiz

There is only one correct answer for each question.

Question 1:
Where was Simon Meister born?
Question 2:
With whom did Meister study painting in Paris?
Question 3:
Which of these was a subject of Meister's paintings?
Question 4:
What was the subject of the panorama painted by Simon and his brother Nikolas Meister?
Question 5:
In which city did Simon Meister die in 1844?