Emil Jakob Schindler emerged as a significant figure in 19th-century Austrian landscape painting, moving away from academic constraints to find inspiration in the Dutch masters. Born in 1842 in Vienna, he eventually secured a reputation that granted him honorary membership at the Vienna Academy and the Munich Academy before his premature death in 1892 at the age of 50.
Early Career and Training
The son of a cotton spinning-mill operator, Schindler initially prepared for a military career, serving in the army starting in 1857. After leaving the service, he enrolled at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna in 1860 to study under Albert Zimmermann. By 1864, he achieved his first public exhibition success with the sale of his work, Eine Waldschmiede, for 350 florins. Although he was registered as an historian painter in Landstraße by 1867, his primary aesthetic focus remained the naturalistic landscape, influenced by Meindert Hobbema and Jacob Izaaksoon van Ruisdael.
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Schindler married the singer Anna Sofie Bergen in 1879 after meeting her through his own vocal studies. The couple had two daughters, Alma Magaretha Maria and Margaretha Julie, the former becoming a notable figure as Alma Mahler. The household was marked by persistent rumors of infidelity involving his wife and students such as Julius Victor Berger and Carl Moll. These tensions are partially documented in his personal diaries, preserved within the Austrian National Library, and in subsequent accounts.
Professional Expansion and Colony
Financial stability arrived in 1881 when he won the Reichel-Preis, providing 1,500 florins. This success enabled him to rent larger accommodations and eventually establish an artists' colony at Castle Plankenberg near Neulengbach in 1885. There, he mentored several painters, including Marie Egner and Olga Wisinger-Florian. His professional standing led to a major commission from Crown Prince Rudolf in 1887 to document the coastal scenery of Dalmatia and Corfu for the project titled The Austro-Hungarian Monarchy in Word and Picture.
Fast facts
- Born: 1842, Vienna
- Died: 1892, Westerland
- Citizenship: Austria–Hungary
- Key teacher: Albert Zimmermann
- First sale: 1864, Eine Waldschmiede
- Notable students: Tina Blau, Marie Egner
- Burial place: Vienna Central Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What caused the death of Emil Jakob Schindler?
While often attributed to appendicitis, his official death certificate lists the cause as paralytic ileus.
Was Emil Jakob Schindler involved in other creative fields?
Yes, he took singing lessons, performed publicly in opera, wrote a verse drama titled Anna, and contributed art criticism under the pseudonym Justus.
