Franz Eybl produced a vast output of over 400 lithographic portraits during his career, establishing himself as a central figure in 19th-century Austrian art. Born in the Gumpendorf suburb of Vienna in 1806, he spent his professional life within the Austrian Empire and Cisleithania, working as a painter and lithographer until his death in 1880.
Academic Training
Eybl entered the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna by 1816 at the age of ten. His early development involved studying under Josef Klieber and Josef Mössmer. Between 1820 and 1823, he refined his craft under the guidance of Johann Baptist von Lampi and Franz Caucig, focusing on the reproduction of antique casts and statues. He later spent time studying history painting under Johann Peter Krafft until 1828, during which time he received the Academy's Gundel-Prize in 1825 and the Lampi Prize in 1828. He eventually became a full member of the Academy in 1843.
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His creative focus encompassed landscape, genre, and history painting. Following 1840, his technique shifted due to the influence of Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller, particularly regarding the application of light. Eybl is primarily recognized for his portraiture, placing him alongside Friedrich von Amerling as one of the most significant portraitists of his era. Beyond his oil work, his extensive lithographic contributions are often compared to the output of Josef Kriehuber.
Legacy and Works
Eybl left behind a diverse body of work, including pieces such as the 1835 oil painting A Slovak Onion-Seller and his 1840 Self-portrait with Hat. Other notable works include his 1847 Das Innere einer Schmiede and the 1850 piece Lesendes Mädchen. He died at his official residence in the Belvedere at the age of 74. He is buried at the Vienna Central Cemetery. In 1933, the city of Vienna honored his contribution by naming the street Eyblweg in Leopoldau after him.
Fast facts
- Born: 1806, Gumpendorf
- Died: 1880, Vienna
- Education: Academy of Fine Arts Vienna
- Primary occupations: Painter and lithographer
- Key associations: Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller
- Burial location: Vienna Central Cemetery
- Street memorial: Eyblweg, Leopoldau
Questions readers ask
What subjects did Franz Eybl paint?
He focused on landscape painting, genre painting, history painting, and portraiture.
Where is Franz Eybl buried?
He is buried at the Vienna Central Cemetery.
