- Jakob Becker
Jakob Becker (Dittelsheim at
Worms ,March 15 1810 ,Frankfurt am Main ,December 22 1872 ) was a German painter.Biography
He began his studies with Franz Nikolaus Jung in Worms. When he was 17 years old he started to work as litograph. His first important work was a panorama over the Rhine from Mainz to Cologne. Between 1833 and 1841 Becker studied at the Academy of Art in
Düsseldorf , his professors wereJohann Wilhelm Schirmer andWilhelm von Schadow . In 1842 he became professor ofgenre painting nadlandscape painting at theStädel in Frankfurt.Art
Becker broke with the lofty attitude of much Biblical historical painting in the Städel creating his profane scenes. As the first professor of landscape and genre painting, he sought his subjects in the countryside and was especially interested in the social problems of the peasantry. He used much realistic detail and emotional gesture.
He was also open to French influences. In
1858 he offered to share his studio withGustave Courbet and - despite having to endure some rudeness from the French artist - Becker accepted some of his stylistic influences.Jakob Becker has taught successfully at the academy for thirty years. Some of his pupils were to form the
Kronberg Painters' Colony one generation later.Literature
* Wolfgang Metternich: "Jakob Becker, der Lehrer der Kronberger Maler". Hrsg. von der Museumsgesellschaft Kronberg e.V. Frankfurt am Main. Kramer Verlag, 1991
* Wolfgang Metternich: "Der Maler Jakob Becker. Ein Frankfurter Lehrer und Wegbereiter im 19. Jahrhundert". Ausstellung im Firmenmuseum der Hoechst AG, Höchster Schloss, 17. März 1985 bis 20. April 1985. Hoechst AG, Frankfurt a. M. 1985
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