Maximilian Pirner (; 13 February 1854 – 2 April 1924) was a

Czech Czech may refer to: * Anything from or related to the Czech Republic, a country in Europe ** Czech language ** Czechs, the people of the area ** Czech culture ** Czech cuisine * One of three mythical brothers, Lech, Czech, and Rus *Czech (surnam ...

painter. He was a member of the

Vienna Secession The Vienna Secession (; also known as the Union of Austrian Artists or ) is an art movement, closely related to Art Nouveau, that was formed in 1897 by a group of Austrian painters, graphic artists, sculptors and architects, including Josef Ho ...

, and associated with the

Mánes Union of Fine Arts The Mánes Association of Fine Artists ( or ''S.V.U.''; commonly abbreviated as ''Manes'') was an artists' association and exhibition society founded in 1887 in Prague and named after painter Josef Mánes. The Manes was significant for its in ...

Life and work

Pirner was born on 13 February 1854 in

Sušice Sušice (; ) is a town in Klatovy District in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 11,000 inhabitants. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected as an Cultural monument (Czech Republic)#Monument zones, urban mon ...

. He was enrolled from 1872 to 1874 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 ...

and from 1875 to 1879 at the

Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna 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. ...

, where he studied with his countryman,

Josef Matyáš Trenkwald 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 ...

. He remained in Vienna until 1887, although he was not an active participant in the local artistic community. At that time, he became a teacher at the Academy in Prague and was named a Professor there in 1896. Pirner's usual themes were classical mythology (such as his ''Medusa'' (1891) and ''Hecate'' (or ''Hekate''; 1901)) and the

macabre In works of art, the adjective macabre ( or ; ) means "having the quality of having a grim or ghastly atmosphere". The macabre works to emphasize the details and symbols of death. The term also refers to works particularly gruesome in natu ...

(such as ''Sleepwalker'' (or ''Girl in Her Nightie Walks on the Window-Ledge''; 1878), ''Daemon Love'' (1893), and ''Allegory of Death'' (1895)). Pirner completed a number of sketches of female figures, many of them nudes. He also did

stained glass Stained glass refers to coloured glass as a material or art and architectural works created from it. Although it is traditionally made in flat panels and used as windows, the creations of modern stained glass artists also include three-dimensio ...

windows and medals. Described by one critic as having achieved "mastery of the sinuous line". Pirner also had his detractors. One contemporary critic, while acknowledging Pirner's talent, considered him an "over-sophisticated mystic." Holme, Charles, ed. ''The Art Revival in Austria''. London: Offices of 'The Studio,' 1906, p. A xii.
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He died on 2 April 1924 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 ...

Selected works

Maxmilian Pirner - v rozkvetu (1883-4).jpg, ''At the Heights'' (1883–84) Maxmilian Pirner - Milenci (1885).jpg, ''Lovers'' (1885) Maxmilian Pirner - medusa.JPG, ''

Medusa In Greek mythology, Medusa (; ), also called Gorgo () or the Gorgon, was one of the three Gorgons. Medusa is generally described as a woman with living snakes in place of hair; her appearance was so hideous that anyone who looked upon her wa ...

'' Max Pirner, Homo homini lupus (1901), akvarel 960 x 474 mm, sbírka kresby Národní galerie v Praze.jpg, Homo homini lupus (1901) Maxmilian Pirner - potok (1903).jpg, ''The Stream'' (1903)

References

1854 births 1924 deaths 19th-century Czech people 20th-century Czech people 19th-century Czech painters Painters from Austria-Hungary Czech male painters 20th-century Czech painters Members of the Vienna Secession People from Sušice 19th-century Czech male artists 20th-century Czech male artists {{CzechRepublic-painter-stub