Rudolf Wiegmann
Rudolf Wiegmann | |
|---|---|
| Born | Heinrich Ernst Gottfried Rudolf Wiegmann April 17, 1804 |
| Died | April 17, 1865(aged 60) |
| Occupation(s) | Painter Archaeologist Art Historian Graphic Artist Architect |
| Spouse | Marie Wiegmann(1841-1865) |
Castel Sant'AngeloandSaint Peter's Basilica
Heinrich Ernst Gottfried Rudolf Wiegmann(17 April 1804,Nordstemmen– 17 April 1865,Düsseldorf) was a German painter, archaeologist, art historian, graphic artist and architect. He worked in theClassicalstyle and, as a painter, is best known for hisvedute.His wife,Marie Wiegmann,whom he married in 1841, was also a painter of some note.
Biography
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He came from a military family. His father was a Lieutenant (later Captain) in the Tenth Infantry Regiment and was killed at theBattle of Waterloo,where he was serving as anadjutantto ColonelGeorg du Plat.[1]
As a child, he often visited St.Dionysius Church in Nordstemmen and itsGothic architectureleft a deep impression on him. He began by studying architecture, mathematics and astronomy at the "Ratsgymnasium" in Hanover, where his family had relocated after his father's death. One of his childhood friends wasAugust Heinrich Andreae,who would later become the City Architect for Hanover. After 1823, he and Andreae attended theUniversity of Göttingen,where he studied history, the natural sciences and archaeology and was especially impressed by the lectures ofKarl Otfried Müller.
He began his art studies inDarmstadtwith the City Architect,Georg Moller,[2]who encouraged him to supplement his class work through practical research in Rome. Accordingly, in 1828, he went to work for theGerman Archaeological Institute,investigating thewall paintingsatPompeii.He remained there until 1832 and became part of the German art colony.
After his return, he devoted himself to creating vedute of Hanover; oil paintings, watercolors, lithographs and etchings, which he published as an album in 1835. During this time, his only architectural work involved a tomb vault for Johann Ludwig Söhlmann (1797–1834), a leather manufacturer.[3]He also became a member of the "Kunstverein Hannover"(Art Association) and served on the committee that chose works for their exhibitions.
His career in Düsseldorf
[edit]He was, however, unsatisfied with his career in Hanover and moved toDüsseldorfin 1836. There he published a book based on his work in Pompeii:The Painting of the Ancients in Application and Technique.This resulted in a dispute with the architect,Leo von Klenze,who questioned Wiegmann's conclusions.[2]Wiegmann replied in 1839 withSir Leo von Klenze and Our Art.
After 1836, he taught at theKunstakademie Düsseldorf.He was named a Professor of Architecture and Perspective in 1839; a position he held until his death.[2]From 1846, he was also head of the Academic Secretariat, under DirectorFriedrich Wilhelm Schadow,and was responsible for correspondence, matriculations and programs. During these years, he became an advocate ofRundbogenstil,a type ofRomanesque Revival architectureand designed a home for Schadow on what is nowSchadowstraße.[4]
In 1839, he designed a new system for roofjointsthat he described in a book calledThe Construction of Chain Bridges According to the Triangle System and Their Application to Roof Joints.However, a virtually identical system was invented at about the same time by the French engineerCamille Polonceau,who used it to build stations for the Paris-Versailles railway, so it has come to be known as a "Polonceau Roof".[5]
He was a member of the "Kunstverein für die Rheinlande und Westfalen",serving on its administrative council. After 1844, he edited its official publication, theCorrespondenzblatt.In 1857, he was named a corresponding member of theRoyal Institute of British Architects.During his later years, he suffered from a chest ailment (possiblytuberculosis) and resigned his positions at the Kunstverein shortly before his death.[4]
His son, Arnold, was killed at theBattle of Spicherenin 1870. Two years later, his personal papers were destroyed in a fire at the Kunstverein.
Notable students
[edit]References
[edit]
- ^Casualties from Hanover at the Battle of Waterloo@ Denkmalprojekt.
- ^abcWiegmann, 1) Rudolf.In:Meyers Konversations-Lexikon.4th edition. Volume 16, Verlag des Bibliographischen Instituts, Leipzig/Vienna 1885–1892, p. 596.
- ^Söhlmann family genealogy@ Genealogie Becker.
- ^abEduard Daelen(1897), "Wiegmann, Rudolf",Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie(in German), vol. 42, Leipzig: Duncker & Humblot, pp. 390–391
- ^Excerpt fromThe History of the Theory of Structuresby Karl-Eugen Kurrer @ Google Books.
Writings by Wiegmann online
[edit]- Die Malerei der Alten in ihrer Anwendung und Technik insbesondere als Decorationsmalerei.Preface by Karl Otfried Müller. Verlag der Hahnschen Hofbuchhandlung, Hannover 1836
- Der Ritter Leo von Klenze und unsere Kunst.Schreiner, Düsseldorf 1839.
- Über den Ursprung des Spitzbogenstils.With an appendix: concerning the establishment of a society for medieval architecture. Julius Buddeus, Düsseldorf 1842
- Die Königliche Kunst-Akademie zu Düsseldorf. Ihre Geschichte, Einrichtung und Wirksamkeit und die Düsseldorfer Künstler.With an autobiography.
External links
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- Literature by and about Rudolf Wiegmannin theGerman National Librarycatalogue
- Works by and about Rudolf Wiegmannin theDeutsche Digitale Bibliothek(German Digital Library)
- Rudolf Wiegmann@ Architekt.de
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