Theodor Pixis
Encyclopedia
August Ludwig Theodor Pixis (1 July 1831 – 19 July 1907) was a German painter, graphic artist, illustrator and etcher.
He was born in Kaiserslautern
. After graduating from the Wilhelmsgymnasium in Munich in 1849, he began studying law. He soon turned to art, and became a pupil of the painters Philipp von Foltz and Wilhelm von Kaulbach
. Pixis made his debut in 1854 with his painting Coriolanus.
Funded and supported by his teachers, Pixis left in 1856 for two years of study in Italy. In the autumn of 1858 Pixis returned to Germany and settled in Munich. One of his first major works after his return was a cycle of illustrations for the Gudrun
legend. From 1859 Pixis was instrumental in the decoration of the Bavarian National Museum
. At the request of Maximilian II
, Pixis created three paintings from the histories of Charles X and Charles XI. From 1862 onwards there came in rapid succession many pictures which were highly praised by critics, such as Calvin meets Servetus in prison, as well as illustrations for a cycle of German folk songs. For the Bruckmann publishing house, Pixis created three images for the Schiller-Galerie and four representations of the seasons. He illustrated Paradise Lost
by John Milton
, and contributed to the Wagner-Galerie. King Ludwig II commissioned Pixis to create a series of pen drawings illustrating the music dramas of Richard Wagner
. Here he proved himself very much a master student of Kaulbach. His large oil paintings show the influence of the elegant and sentimental manner of Arthur von Ramberg
.
He was also known for the invention of the process known as Pixis painting (Pixis-Patentmalerei). With the aid of photographs, oil paintings (old and new masters) could be reproduced more easily. But after a few years, his complicated process was replaced by simpler methods.
At the age of 76 years Theodor Pixis died in Pöcking
. Today a street is named after him in Kaiserslautern.
He was born in Kaiserslautern
Kaiserslautern
Kaiserslautern is a city in southwest Germany, located in the Bundesland of Rhineland-Palatinate at the edge of the Palatinate forest . The historic centre dates to the 9th century. It is from Paris, from Frankfurt am Main, and from Luxembourg.Kaiserslautern is home to 99,469 people...
. After graduating from the Wilhelmsgymnasium in Munich in 1849, he began studying law. He soon turned to art, and became a pupil of the painters Philipp von Foltz and Wilhelm von Kaulbach
Wilhelm von Kaulbach
Wilhelm von Kaulbach was a German painter, noted mainly as a muralist, but also as a book illustrator. His murals decorate buildings in Munich.-Education:...
. Pixis made his debut in 1854 with his painting Coriolanus.
Funded and supported by his teachers, Pixis left in 1856 for two years of study in Italy. In the autumn of 1858 Pixis returned to Germany and settled in Munich. One of his first major works after his return was a cycle of illustrations for the Gudrun
Gudrun
Gudrun is a major figure in the early Germanic literature centered on the hero Sigurd, son of Sigmund. She appears as Kriemhild in the Nibelungenlied and as Gutrune in Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen.-Norse mythology:...
legend. From 1859 Pixis was instrumental in the decoration of the Bavarian National Museum
Bavarian National Museum
The Bavarian National Museum in Munich is one of the most important cultural history museums in Europe.-Building and History:...
. At the request of Maximilian II
Maximilian II
Maximilian II may refer to:*Maximilian II of Burgundy *Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor *Maximilian II Emanuel, Elector of Bavaria *Maximilian II of Bavaria...
, Pixis created three paintings from the histories of Charles X and Charles XI. From 1862 onwards there came in rapid succession many pictures which were highly praised by critics, such as Calvin meets Servetus in prison, as well as illustrations for a cycle of German folk songs. For the Bruckmann publishing house, Pixis created three images for the Schiller-Galerie and four representations of the seasons. He illustrated Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost is an epic poem in blank verse by the 17th-century English poet John Milton. It was originally published in 1667 in ten books, with a total of over ten thousand individual lines of verse...
by John Milton
John Milton
John Milton was an English poet, polemicist, a scholarly man of letters, and a civil servant for the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell...
, and contributed to the Wagner-Galerie. King Ludwig II commissioned Pixis to create a series of pen drawings illustrating the music dramas of Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
. Here he proved himself very much a master student of Kaulbach. His large oil paintings show the influence of the elegant and sentimental manner of Arthur von Ramberg
Arthur von Ramberg
Arthur von Ramberg was an Austrian-born painter who worked in Germany.-Biography:He studied art at Hanover and early made a tour in Italy, Hungary and Styria. In 1840, he attended the university at Prague, while at the same time uniting the pursuit of art with his other studies...
.
He was also known for the invention of the process known as Pixis painting (Pixis-Patentmalerei). With the aid of photographs, oil paintings (old and new masters) could be reproduced more easily. But after a few years, his complicated process was replaced by simpler methods.
At the age of 76 years Theodor Pixis died in Pöcking
Pöcking
Pöcking is a municipality in the district of Starnberg in Bavaria in Germany. Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria, consort of Emperor Franz Josef I of Austria-Hungary, grew up here in the Possenhofen Castle as daughter of Duke Max in Bavaria and Princess Ludovika of Bavaria. Otto von Habsburg, Crown...
. Today a street is named after him in Kaiserslautern.