Anton Graff established his reputation in 1766 by submitting a self-portrait to Christian Ludwig von Hagedorn, which secured him an immediate appointment as a court painter in Dresden. Over the following decades, he emerged as the preeminent portraitist for German poets, scholars, and nobility, ultimately producing an estimated 2,000 paintings throughout a career spanning the Enlightenment and early Romantic periods.
Early Career and Training
Born in 1736 in Winterthur, Switzerland, Graff began his artistic training in 1753 under Johann Ulrich Schellenberg. He later relocated to Augsburg, where he apprenticed with etcher Johann Jakob Haid. His early success prompted local guild members to force his departure due to competition concerns. He subsequently worked in Ansbach under court painter Leonhard Schneider until 1759, followed by periods in Munich, Regensburg, and Zurich before settling in Dresden.
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Upon his arrival in Dresden in April 1766, Graff assumed his role as a teacher and court painter at the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts. He remained at the institution for the rest of his life, turning down more lucrative offers from other academies, including an opportunity at the Prussian Academy of Arts in Berlin. In 1789, he was officially appointed Professor for portrait painting at the Dresden Academy.
Portraiture Style and Technique
Graff’s Neoclassical technique focused on illuminating the subject’s face while utilizing shadow to add depth. He was noted for his ability to render textiles and drapery naturally, influenced by the work of Hyacinthe Rigaud. While his early backgrounds were monochrome, his later works frequently incorporated outdoor settings. His sitters included Frederick the Great, Catherine the Great, and Friedrich Schiller, the latter of whom Graff famously remarked could not sit still.
Personal Life and Final Years
In 1771, Graff married Elisabetha Sophie Augusta Sulzer, the daughter of Johann Georg Sulzer. The couple had five children, though only two survived to adulthood. Graff’s later years were marked by a shift toward landscape painting and a significant cataract surgery in 1803. Following the death of his wife in 1812, Graff died from typhoid fever in Dresden on 22 June 1813, leaving behind an estate valued at 40,000 Thaler.
Fast facts
- Born: 1736, Winterthur
- Died: 22 June 1813, Dresden
- Movement: Neoclassicism
- Notable work: Self-portrait with green eyeshade
- Citizenship: Switzerland, Kingdom of Saxony, Electorate of Saxony
- Total lifetime output: Approximately 2,000 paintings
- Key employer: Dresden Academy of Fine Arts
- Religion: Reformed
Questions readers ask
Did Frederick the Great ever sit for a portrait by Anton Graff?
No, Graff never painted the King from a live sitting. He instead based his portrait on observations made during a 1781 military parade.
What was the significance of the portrait of Friedrich Schiller?
The portrait is documented due to Graff's struggle with the poet, who frequently moved, making the painting process difficult for the artist.
Achievements
- Notable work: Self-portrait with green eyeshade
- Movement: Neoclassicism
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