Friedrich August von Klinkowström
Encyclopedia
Friedrich August von Klinkowström (31 August 1778 – 4 April 1835) was a German
artist, author and teacher from an old Pomeranian
noble family.
Klinkowström was born in Ludwigsburg
in Swedish Pomerania
to Friedrich Ernst Sebastian von Klinkowström (1735–1821) and Anna Louise Wilhelmine von Rosenberg (1751–1823). He began studying at the University of Greifswald, but, in deference to the wishes of his father, a lieutenant-colonel in the Swedish army
, Friedrich served in the Prussian Army
from 1793 to 1802. After this he was allowed to follow his own inclination and become a painter
. To perfect himself in his studies, he went to the famous Dresden Gallery
. His early pictures as well showed a strong leaning towards the Roman Catholic Church
. After four years of successful study he was called home and obliged to remain there quietly for two years, owing to the depressed political condition of the country after the Battle of Jena. Then he decided to head for Rome
, journeying first through Paris
where the victorious Napoleon
had amassed art treasures from many lands.
His stay in Paris lasted nearly two years, and terminated with his engagement. Finally in 1810 he started for Rome. But the quickly formed friendship with Thorvaldsen
, Rauch
, Overbeck
, and other artists, only lasted a year, as Klinkowström was obliged to look about for an assured position. This led him to Vienna
to take a place as instructor, and his marriage followed in 1812. But the grave political situation after the Battle of Leipzig
led the quiet artist once again to join the army. He participated in the Landwehr
in Leipzig, Dresden, and Aachen
. After the Treaty of Paris
he returned to Vienna, where he found that during his absence his wife had been received into the Roman Catholic Church by Father Klemens Hofbauer
. When he was told of this, he exclaimed: "So Louise has become a Catholic before me." A few months after this he followed the example of his "dear Louise". Then there came three quiet years of painting and literary work. He devoted himself particularly to children's books for which he provided designs and illustrations.
There had been a plan under discussion for some time in Vienna to found a school for the sons of the higher nobility. But the difficulty was to find the right man, one qualified to undertake the work and carry it out within the provisions of the Austrian School Laws. With Klinkowström as its leader, the new foundation was opened in 1818, and enjoyed the personal favour of Emperor Francis I of Austria
, the fact that the empress
also showed an active interest in it naturally lent additional prestige to the school. Owing to ill-health and increasing suffering, Klinkowström was obliged in 1834, after sixteen years of personal guidance, to give over the schools to other hands. He died six months after this, his wife having died before him, in 1821. Both of his oldest and youngest sons, Joseph
and Max, entered the Jesuit Order
, and became renowned preachers. The third son, Klemens, the head of the house in Austria, acquired as Imperial and Royal Archivist a literary fame, while the fourth son, Alphons, produced a biography of his father. The only daughter joined the Order of Salesians
after her father's death.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
artist, author and teacher from an old Pomeranian
Duchy of Pomerania
The Duchy of Pomerania was a duchy in Pomerania on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea, ruled by dukes of the House of Pomerania ....
noble family.
Klinkowström was born in Ludwigsburg
Loissin
Loissin is a municipality in the Vorpommern-Greifswald district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany....
in Swedish Pomerania
Swedish Pomerania
Swedish Pomerania was a Dominion under the Swedish Crown from 1630 to 1815, situated on what is now the Baltic coast of Germany and Poland. Following the Polish War and the Thirty Years' War, Sweden held extensive control over the lands on the southern Baltic coast, including Pomerania and parts...
to Friedrich Ernst Sebastian von Klinkowström (1735–1821) and Anna Louise Wilhelmine von Rosenberg (1751–1823). He began studying at the University of Greifswald, but, in deference to the wishes of his father, a lieutenant-colonel in the Swedish army
Swedish Army
The Swedish Army is one of the oldest standing armies in the world and a branch of the Swedish Armed Forces; it is in charge of land operations. General Sverker Göranson is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Army.- Organization :...
, Friedrich served in the Prussian Army
Prussian Army
The Royal Prussian Army was the army of the Kingdom of Prussia. It was vital to the development of Brandenburg-Prussia as a European power.The Prussian Army had its roots in the meager mercenary forces of Brandenburg during the Thirty Years' War...
from 1793 to 1802. After this he was allowed to follow his own inclination and become a painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
. To perfect himself in his studies, he went to the famous Dresden Gallery
Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister
The Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister in Dresden features major works of art. It is located in the gallery wing of the Zwinger....
. His early pictures as well showed a strong leaning towards the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. After four years of successful study he was called home and obliged to remain there quietly for two years, owing to the depressed political condition of the country after the Battle of Jena. Then he decided to head for Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, journeying first through Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
where the victorious Napoleon
Napoleon I of France
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
had amassed art treasures from many lands.
His stay in Paris lasted nearly two years, and terminated with his engagement. Finally in 1810 he started for Rome. But the quickly formed friendship with Thorvaldsen
Bertel Thorvaldsen
Bertel Thorvaldsen was a Danish-Icelandic sculptor of international fame, who spent most of his life in Italy . Thorvaldsen was born in Copenhagen into a Danish/Icelandic family of humble means, and was accepted to the Royal Academy of Arts when he was eleven years old...
, Rauch
Christian Daniel Rauch
Christian Daniel Rauch was a German sculptor. He founded the Berlin school of sculpture, and was the foremost German sculptor of the 19th century.-Biography:Rauch was born at Arolsen in the Principality of Waldeck...
, Overbeck
Johann Friedrich Overbeck
Johann Friedrich Overbeck , was a German painter and member of the Nazarene movement. He also made four etchings.-Biography:...
, and other artists, only lasted a year, as Klinkowström was obliged to look about for an assured position. This led him to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
to take a place as instructor, and his marriage followed in 1812. But the grave political situation after the Battle of Leipzig
Battle of Leipzig
The Battle of Leipzig or Battle of the Nations, on 16–19 October 1813, was fought by the coalition armies of Russia, Prussia, Austria and Sweden against the French army of Napoleon. Napoleon's army also contained Polish and Italian troops as well as Germans from the Confederation of the Rhine...
led the quiet artist once again to join the army. He participated in the Landwehr
Landwehr
Landwehr, or Landeswehr, is a German language term used in referring to certain national armies, or militias found in nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Europe. In different context it refers to large scale, low strength fortifications...
in Leipzig, Dresden, and Aachen
Aachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
. After the Treaty of Paris
Treaty of Paris (1814)
The Treaty of Paris, signed on 30 May 1814, ended the war between France and the Sixth Coalition, part of the Napoleonic Wars, following an armistice signed on 23 May between Charles, Count of Artois, and the allies...
he returned to Vienna, where he found that during his absence his wife had been received into the Roman Catholic Church by Father Klemens Hofbauer
Clemens Maria Hofbauer
Clemens Maria Hofbauer was a hermit and is the patron saint of Vienna.- Childhood and early priesthood :...
. When he was told of this, he exclaimed: "So Louise has become a Catholic before me." A few months after this he followed the example of his "dear Louise". Then there came three quiet years of painting and literary work. He devoted himself particularly to children's books for which he provided designs and illustrations.
There had been a plan under discussion for some time in Vienna to found a school for the sons of the higher nobility. But the difficulty was to find the right man, one qualified to undertake the work and carry it out within the provisions of the Austrian School Laws. With Klinkowström as its leader, the new foundation was opened in 1818, and enjoyed the personal favour of Emperor Francis I of Austria
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
Francis II was the last Holy Roman Emperor, ruling from 1792 until 6 August 1806, when he dissolved the Empire after the disastrous defeat of the Third Coalition by Napoleon at the Battle of Austerlitz...
, the fact that the empress
Caroline Augusta of Bavaria
Caroline Augusta of Bavaria was a daughter of Maximilian I Joseph, King of Bavaria and his wife, Augusta Wilhelmine of Hesse-Darmstadt , and a member of the House of Wittelsbach. She was married to Crown Prince William of Württemberg and to Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor...
also showed an active interest in it naturally lent additional prestige to the school. Owing to ill-health and increasing suffering, Klinkowström was obliged in 1834, after sixteen years of personal guidance, to give over the schools to other hands. He died six months after this, his wife having died before him, in 1821. Both of his oldest and youngest sons, Joseph
Joseph von Klinkowström
Joseph von Klinkowström was a Jesuit missionary and the son of Friedrich August von Klinkowström of the Prussian noble family of Klinkowström....
and Max, entered the Jesuit Order
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
, and became renowned preachers. The third son, Klemens, the head of the house in Austria, acquired as Imperial and Royal Archivist a literary fame, while the fourth son, Alphons, produced a biography of his father. The only daughter joined the Order of Salesians
Salesians of Don Bosco
The Salesians of Don Bosco is a Roman Catholic religious order founded in the late nineteenth century by Saint John Bosco in an attempt, through works of charity, to care for the young and poor children of the industrial revolution...
after her father's death.