Adam August Müller (16 August 1811 – 15 March 1844), a Danish

history painter History painting is a genre in painting defined by its subject matter rather than any artistic style or specific period. History paintings depict a moment in a narrative story, most often (but not exclusively) Greek mythology, Greek and Roman my ...

, was one of Eckersberg's favourite students. Generally unhealthy and dead at 32, his work is recognized as an important component in Danish art. His favourite subjects were historical and religious themes.

Biography

A son of Bishop Peter Erasmus Müller (1776-1834), he was born in

Copenhagen Copenhagen ( ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a population of 1.4 million in the Urban area of Copenhagen, urban area. The city is situated on the islands of Zealand and Amager, separated from Malmö, Sweden, by the ...

. In 1825, he became a student of Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg (1783– 1853) at the

Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts () has provided education in the arts for more than 250 years, playing its part in the development of the art of Denmark. History The Royal Danish Academy of Portraiture, Sculpture, and Architecture in Cope ...

, joining the Model School in 1828. The following year, he exhibited ' ("

Aladdin Aladdin ( ; , , ATU 561, 'Aladdin') is a Middle-Eastern folk tale. It is one of the best-known tales associated with '' One Thousand and One Nights'' (often known in English as ''The Arabian Nights''), despite not being part of the original ...

, standing behind a pillar, sees Gulnare") and the following year exhibited a number of portraits, two of which were purchased for the

Royal Collection The Royal Collection of the British royal family is the largest private art collection in the world. Spread among 13 occupied and historic List of British royal residences, royal residences in the United Kingdom, the collection is owned by King ...

. Philip Weilbach
Müller, Adam August, 1811-44
Dansk biografisk leksikon, Vol 11, p. 565, C. F. Bricka, ''Gyldendal'', Copenhagen 1887–1905. He was awarded a silver medal in 1833 and the gold medal in 1836. In 1838, he competed with Heinrich Eddelien for a scholarship to

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

. Eddelein prevailed but, thanks to the intercession of

Bertel Thorvaldsen Albert Bertel Thorvaldsen (; sometimes given as Thorwaldsen; 19 November 1770 – 24 March 1844) was a Danes, Danish-Icelanders, Icelandic Sculpture, sculptor and medallist, medalist of international fame, who spent most of his life (1797–183 ...

, Müller received some travel money as well. In 1839, he went to Italy after a short stay in Munich. His studies of Florentine painting encouraged him to adopt a new approach to religious painting, emulating the old Italian style. This earned him the Thorvaldsen Medal for "Christ Blesses the Four Evangelists", painted in 1843 after he had returned to Denmark. He had only just recovered from a serious illness when he went to Italy and was frequently ill while there. After his return to Copenhagen, his health deteriorated and he died there, leaving several unfinished commissions.

Selected works

*' (1829) *' (1831) *' (1832) *' (1832) *' (1833) *' (1834) *', altarpiece (1834) *' (1835) *' (1836) *' (1838) *' (1838) *' (1842) *' (1843)

Gallery

File:Müller Den vertabte Søns Hjemkomst 1843.jpg, ''Homecoming of the
Prodigal Son'' (1843) File:Müller Aladdin 1831.jpg, ''

Tries to Catch the Falling Orange'' (1831) File:Adam August Müller - Sovende mand overvåget af to unge piger.jpg, ''Sleeping Man with
Two Young Girls'' (1828) File:Adam Müller - Partie af Antiksalen paa Charlottenborg - 1830.jpg, '' The Hall of Antiquities at Charlottenborg Palace, Copenhagen'' (1830),

Metropolitan Museum of Art The Metropolitan Museum of Art, colloquially referred to as the Met, is an Encyclopedic museum, encyclopedic art museum in New York City. By floor area, it is the List of largest museums, third-largest museum in the world and the List of larg ...

File:Müller Den Saarede Herluf Trolle 1832.jpg, '' Herluf Trolle Returns to Herlufsholm School'' (1832)

References

External links

More works by Müller
@ ArtNet {{DEFAULTSORT:Mueller, Adam August 1811 births 1844 deaths Painters from Copenhagen Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts alumni 19th-century Danish painters Danish male painters 19th-century painters of historical subjects 19th-century Danish male artists