Heinrich Füger

Heinrich Friedrich Füger was a German classicist portrait and historical painter.

Biography
Füger was born in Heilbronn. He became a pupil of Nicolas Guibal in Stuttgart and of Adam Friedrich Oeser in Leipzig. Afterward, he travelled and spent some time in Rome and Naples, where he painted frescoes in the Palazzo Caserta. On his return to Vienna he was appointed court painter, professor, and vice-director of the Academy, and in 1806 director of the Belvedere Gallery.

Among his historical paintings are: The Farewell of Coriolanus (Czernin Gallery, Vienna), Allegory on the Peace of Vienna (1801), The Death of Germanicus (1789), The Assassination of Caesar, and Bathsheba (Budapest Gallery). Among his portraits are those of the Emperor Joseph II, the Grand Duchess Elizabeth Wilhelmine of Württemberg, Queen Caroline of Naples, and Horatio Nelson, who sat for him in Vienna in 1800 (National Portrait Gallery, London). He painted in the classic style of Louis David and Anton Raphael Mengs and was inclined to be theatrical.

Füger was also a teacher; among his pupils was Gustav Philipp Zwinger, and Franciszek Ksawery Lampi. He died in Vienna.

Text courtesy of Wikipedia, 2024