Otto Schwerdgeburth

March 5, 1835 (age 31)

Weimar, Thuringia, Germany

The Antwerp Academy played an important role in the Belgian historical painting movement. Schwerdgeburth became acquainted with leading artists of this school of painting such as January August Hendrik Leys, January Swerts and Godfried Guffens. He lived in Guffens" home for a while. In Antwerp he worked from 1856 to 1858 with January Swerts and Godfried Guffens on murals in the restored Old Bourse of Antwerp. These works were later destroyed by fire but some of the designs survive through engravings Schwerdgeburth made. He returned to Weimar in 1860 where he worked on various historical paintings. Suffering from ill health, he went to Bad Reichenhall for cures. This painting was very well received. He worked on other historical paintings. In order to make a painting on the execution of Andreas Hofer he travelled to Verona and from there on to Florence, Rome and Naples. He died not long after his return from Rome.

Otto Schwerdgeburth

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painter

Background

Schwerdgeburth was born from the second marriage of Carl August Schwerdgeburth, a well-known engraver and painter. He was first a pupil of his father and later studied under Friedrich Preller.

Education

He then travelled to Belgium where from 1856 to 1860 he studied at the Antwerp Academy of Fine Arts.

Career

The Antwerp Academy played an important role in the Belgian historical painting movement. Schwerdgeburth became acquainted with leading artists of this school of painting such as January August Hendrik Leys, January Swerts and Godfried Guffens. He lived in Guffens" home for a while.

In Antwerp he worked from 1856 to 1858 with January Swerts and Godfried Guffens on murals in the restored Old Bourse of Antwerp.

These works were later destroyed by fire but some of the designs survive through engravings Schwerdgeburth made. He returned to Weimar in 1860 where he worked on various historical paintings.

Suffering from ill health, he went to Bad Reichenhall for cures. This painting was very well received.

He worked on other historical paintings.

In order to make a painting on the execution of Andreas Hofer he travelled to Verona and from there on to Florence, Rome and Naples. He died not long after his return from Rome.

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