Josef Matyáš Trenkwald (also known as Joseph Matthias Trenkwald, ; 13 March 1824 — 28 July 1897) was a Czech-Austrian painter. He was best known for his religious and historical paintings.

Biography

Josef Matyáš Trenkwald was born on 13 March 1824 in

Prague Prague ( ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in the Czech Republic, largest city of the Czech Republic and the historical capital of Bohemia. Prague, located on the Vltava River, has a population of about 1.4 million, while its P ...

. His father was a tax commissioner. He studied art with Christian Ruben at the

Academy of Fine Arts, Prague The Academy of Fine Arts in Prague (; AVU) is an art college in Prague, Czech Republic. Founded in 1799, it is the oldest art college in the country. The school offers twelve master's degree programs and one doctoral program. History Starting ...

from 1841 to 1851, where he began painting scenes from Czech history, especially the era of the

Hussite wars The Hussite Wars, also called the Bohemian Wars or the Hussite Revolution, were a series of civil wars fought between the Hussites and the combined Catholic forces of Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor, Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund, the Papacy, a ...

. In 1852, he moved to the

Vienna Academy of Fine Arts The Academy of Fine Arts Vienna () is a public art school in Vienna, Austria. Founded in 1688 as a private academy, it is now a public university. The academy is also known for twice rejecting admission to a young Adolf Hitler in 1907 and 1908. ...

and illustrated the ''Book of Songs'' by

Heinrich Heine Christian Johann Heinrich Heine (; ; born Harry Heine; 13 December 1797 – 17 February 1856) was an outstanding poet, writer, and literary criticism, literary critic of 19th-century German Romanticism. He is best known outside Germany for his ...

. For five years, from 1856 to 1861, he lived in

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

on a scholarship. In 1865, he was appointed Director of the Academy in Prague and held that position until 1872, when he became a Professor at the Vienna Academy. He died in on 28 July 1897 in

Perchtoldsdorf Perchtoldsdorf (; colloquially ''Petersdorf'') is a market town in the Mödling District, in the Austrian state of Lower Austria. It is known chiefly for its winemaking. Geography It is located immediately at the Vienna city limits, south of the ...

, at the age of 73. He is best known for his large canvases ''Leopold the Glorious enters Vienna on his return from the Cross campaign'' (1872), '' Thomas Munzer'', ''King Enzo'', etc. In addition, Trenkwald created frescoes in several Vienna and Prague churches. Together with Karel Svoboda and Antonín Lhota, he decorated the "Belvedere Queen Anne" (a royal summer palace) with scenes from Czech history.Retro, Bib: Joseph Matthias Trenkwald
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Selected paintings

Josef Matyáš Trenkwald - Založení pražské university.jpg, The Establishment of

Prague University Charles University (CUNI; , UK; ; ), or historically as the University of Prague (), is the largest university in the Czech Republic. It is one of the oldest universities in the world in continuous operation, the oldest university north of the ...

Josef Matyáš Trenkwald - Bitva u Lipan 30.května 1434.jpg, The

Battle of Lipany The Battle of Lipany (), also called the Battle of Český Brod, was fought at Lipany 40 km east of Prague on 30 May 1434 and virtually ended the Hussite Wars. An army of moderate Hussite (or Calixtine) nobility and Catholics, called the ...

Josef Matyáš Trenkwald - Přenesení ostatků biskupa Vojtěcha do Prahy.jpg, Transferring the Remains of
Bishop Adalbert

References

External links

1824 births 1897 deaths 19th-century Austrian painters Austrian male painters Painters from Prague History painters 19th-century Czech painters 19th-century Austrian male artists Czech male painters 19th-century Czech male artists {{Austria-painter-stub