Albert Baur (7 July 1835,Aachen - 7 May 1906,Düsseldorf) was a German painter, illustrator and engraver, associated with theDüsseldorfer Malerschule. He is sometimes referred to asAlbert Baur the Elder, to distinguish him from his son,Albert [de], who was also an artist.
He was born to a family of bankers and was originally sent toBonn to study medicine. In 1854, against his parents' wishes, he quit medical school and enrolled at theKunstakademie Düsseldorf, where he studied from 1855 to 1857. His primary instructors there wereChristian Köhler andHeinrich Mücke. He also took private lessons fromWilhelm Sohn andJoseph Kehren [de]. In 1860, he moved to Munich and spent two years as a student ofMoritz von Schwind. In 1863, he married Marie Beuth (1841-1917) and they had four children.[1]
In 1864, he received a prize for hismatte paintings of theLast Judgment at theLandgericht [de] inElberfeld. This work was commissioned by the jurist,Johann Friedrich Hector Philippi [de], the father of Baur's friend and school colleague,Heinrich Ludwig Philippi, whose influence prompted him to specialize inhistory painting. One of his first major works depicted the body ofOtto III being carried across theAlps to Germany.
In 1872, he was named a Professor at theGrand-Ducal Saxon Art School, Weimar, but his attendance was apparently rather sporadic as he took numerous study trips throughout Europe. He returned to Düsseldorf in 1876 and lived there for the rest of his life.
Among the best known works from this later period are a series of "Nischenbilder" (niche paintings) for theNeues Rathaus [de] (Town Hall), depicting theLove of Art,Industriousness,Desire for Knowledge (Wissensdrang) andPatriotism. Later, he added a mural showing Düsseldorf being taken over byBrandenburg in 1609, following a royal succession dispute.[2]
Media related toAlbert Baur at Wikimedia Commons
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