Background
Kobell was born in Mannheim, the son of Ferdinand Kobell, a landscape painter who cited Claude Lorrain as his influence. Wilhelm"s initial lessons were supplied by his father and his uncle, Franz Kobell.
Kobell was born in Mannheim, the son of Ferdinand Kobell, a landscape painter who cited Claude Lorrain as his influence. Wilhelm"s initial lessons were supplied by his father and his uncle, Franz Kobell.
He studied the works in the galleries of Mannheim and Düsseldorf, especially those of Wouvermann, which he copied.
He received further training under Franz Anton von Leydendorf and Egid Verhelst in the art of engraving at the Zeichnungsakademie in Mannheim. During this time he practiced various styles, including 17th-century Dutch painting and 18th-century English art In 1778, he went to Rome, was made court painter at Mannheim after his return, and afterwards followed his father to Munich, where he became professor at the Academy in 1808.
He was supported by Charles Theodore, Elector of Bavaria, who compensated him an annual sum of 500 florins from 1792 until Theodore"s death in 1799.
In 1809, he visited Vienna, and in 1810 Paris, to make studies for his battle pieces.