- Date of birth: 3 July 1789
- Date of death: 12 Nov 1869
- Country: Germany
Biography:
This German painter, Illustrator and graph named by contemporaries “the greatest artist who ever lived”. Agree, what is the definition of when human life will not get every figure, and even more creative. What is so famous Friedrich Overbeck?
He was born 3 Jul 1789 in port city of lübeck in Northern Germany, in a very educated and enlightened family of lawyers. The future artist’s father, besides the fact that he was a diplomat, a Senator, a mayor, a Canon in the Catholic Church, was a translator and poet.
Drawing young Friedrich studied with a local artist Th. Peru, and at age 17 went to one of the oldest art schools in Europe – the Vienna Academy of art, where he studied from 1806 to 1810 years.
Young Overbeck talented, enthusiastic, inspiring the romance of the Renaissance, the works of Raphael and dürer, was disgusted with a classic, traditional education Academy.
And in 1809, together with his friends, he formed a group of artists of the time Nazarene works, or else “the Union Luke.” This title is drawn in the likeness of a medieval Guild the 15th century, which has brought together a group of creative people known as, in honor of St. Luke, patron Saint of artists.
In 1810 Overbeck quitting school at the Academy and along with other members of the group went to Rome. Settling in the abandoned monastery, they represent a very strange and beautiful society, with long hair, in the ancient German national costumes. And, by the way, the name “time Nazarene works” comes from dürer’s self-portraits depicting him with a traditional long-haired haircut, which he loved and Friedrich.
The members of the group Catholics, they are very religious and the purpose of your see renewal and revival of the religious traditions of Italian and German art, through which will emerge a new highly spiritual and Patriotic art at a time.
This period is known for such works as “Saint Sebastian”, “Christ in the house of Mary and Martha”, “the adoration of the Magi”, as well as portraits of friends-artists, sketches and drafts.
In 1816, there comes a recognition and the flourishing creativity of time Nazarene works. They do murals for Home Bartholdy in Rome, decorate the Villa Massimo. That is fresco painting and brought them glory.
Further a number of important works in the works Overkamp – fresco “the last judgment”, the paintings “Italy and Germany”, “the Triumph of religion in art” (after which it was announced that phrase about him as the greatest artist of our time), “the Seven sacraments”, “Death of Joseph”, “self-Portrait with his wife and son Alfonso” and others.
From 1831 to 1863 years, the Friedrich Overkamp honorary member of the academies of Vienna, Florence, Berlin, Antwerp is awarded the order of merit of Bavaria. It has significance and weight in Church circles.
The artist died 12 Nov 1869 in Rome. But before the end of his life he remained devoted to religious art, his youthful “nozarashi” the idea of the revival of German painting.