Background
He was the son of an innkeeper and displayed an early aptitude for drawing.
educationist lithographer painter
He was the son of an innkeeper and displayed an early aptitude for drawing.
The National Revival in Bohemia had a decisive influence on his work. On a recommendation by Professor Joseph Bergler, he came under the patronage of Johann Rudolf Czernin, the Count von Chudenitz, which enabled him to continue his studies. From 1817 to 1825, he served as Court Painter to the House of Czernin and overseer for their collection of paintings in Vienna.
He maintained close contact with many Czechoslovakian scholars, such as Josef Dobrovský and František Palacký, which deepened his nationalistic feelings.
After completing his work in Vienna, he received an Imperial Pension courtesy of Klemens von Metternich, who had been a regular visitor at the Czernins. He returned to Vienna in 1832, then moved on to Prague in 1836, when he became the first Czechoslovakian to be appointed Director of the Art Academy.
Josef Mánes and Karel Javůrek were among his best-known students there.