Albert Johann Ludovici (3 September 1820 – September 1894) was a German and British artist, known for exhibiting at the

Royal Society of British Artists The Royal Society of British Artists (RBA) is a British art body established in 1823 as the Society of British Artists, as an alternative to the Royal Academy. History The RBA commenced with twenty-seven members, and took until 1876 to reach fi ...

Life

Ludovici was born on 3 September 1820, in Zittau. He was the son of Henriette Amilie (née Wölher 1795–1826) and Johann August Ludovici, (1789–1872). After living in

Chemnitz Chemnitz (; from 1953 to 1990: Karl-Marx-Stadt (); ; ) is the third-largest city in the Germany, German States of Germany, state of Saxony after Leipzig and Dresden, and the fourth-largest city in the area of former East Germany after (East Be ...

until 1843, he moved to

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

, where he studied at the "''Atelier Drölling"'' and was a contemporary of the well-known artist

Jean-Jacques Henner Jean-Jacques Henner (5 March 1829 – 23 July 1905) was a French painter, noted for his use of sfumato and chiaroscuro in painting nudes, religious subjects and portraits. Biography Henner was born at Bernwiller (Alsace). He began his stud ...

. Ludovici moved to England, and living in

Margate Margate is a seaside resort, seaside town in the Thanet District of Kent, England. It is located on the north coast of Kent and covers an area of long, north-east of Canterbury and includes Cliftonville, Garlinge, Palm Bay, UK, Palm Bay and W ...

, began a career as a painter. Within two years he had established himself as a successful

portrait painter Portrait painting is a Hierarchy of genres, genre in painting, where the intent is to represent a specific human subject. The term 'portrait painting' can also describe the actual painted portrait. Portraitists may create their work by commissio ...

and was able to return to

in 1850 to marry Caroline Grenier (1822–1893) and bring her back to England with him. He moved to Mornington Rd, London, where they had five children. He became a

British subject The term "British subject" has several different meanings depending on the time period. Before 1949, it referred to almost all subjects of the British Empire (including the United Kingdom, Dominions, and colonies, but excluding protectorates ...

in 1871. Ludovici had a long and established career, often exhibiting at the

, where he was at one point treasurer. Included in the portraits he painted were

King Edward VII Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910. The second child and eldest son of Queen Victoria and ...

and

Queen Alexandra Alexandra of Denmark (Alexandra Caroline Marie Charlotte Louise Julia; 1 December 1844 – 20 November 1925) was List of British royal consorts, queen-consort of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India, from 22 Januar ...

. Ludovici's friend, the sculptor

Jules Dalou Aimé-Jules Dalou (; 31 December 183815 April 1902) was a 19th-century French sculptor, admired for his perceptiveness, execution, and unpretentious realism. Early life Born in Paris to a working-class family of Huguenot background, he was rais ...

presented him and his family with a terracotta bust of Ludovici in gratitude for their help after Dalou left Paris and stayed with the Ludovici family in London. Albert Ludovici died in Vevey, Switzerland in September 1894. Two of Albert's children became artists, his eldest son Albert Ludovici Jr. (1852–1932)For Albert Ludovici Jr., see Wikidata:Q21288402. and his second daughter Marguerite (Cathelin-Ludovici, 1856–1947). Albert Sr. was the Grandfather of Anthony M Ludovici, who although also a talented painter, chose writing as a career.

References

19th-century German painters German male painters 1820 births 1894 deaths People from Zittau People from Margate Immigrants to the United Kingdom 19th-century German male artists {{Germany-painter-stub