The library walls of the German Marine Zoological Institute in Naples feature five scenes created in 1873, representing the joys of coastal life through a complex framework of friezes and pilasters. This major fresco commission marked a transition for Hans von Marées, the German artist who initially focused on portraiture before shifting toward mythological themes in his later work.
Early Education and Military Service
Born in 1837 in the Kingdom of Prussia, Marées originated from a banking family in Elberfeld. By 1847, the family relocated to Koblenz, where he attended the Gymnasium. His formal artistic training began at the Prussian Academy of Arts, where he studied from 1853 to 1855. During this period, he entered the studio of painter and printmaker Carl Steffeck. Following his education, he fulfilled military service obligations from 1855 to 1857 before moving to Munich.
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In Munich, Marées established a professional connection with Franz von Lenbach. Their work caught the attention of Count Adolf von Schack, who sponsored their 1864 trip to Italy to copy old masters. This journey facilitated friendships with art theorist Konrad Fiedler and sculptor Adolf von Hildebrand. Marées subsequently traveled through France, the Netherlands, and Spain in 1869 with Fiedler. He later participated in the Franco-Prussian War before residing in Berlin and Dresden.
Symbolism and The German Romans
Marées diverged from their stylistic norms by developing a technical approach that involved layering oil over tempera. This method achieved a specific depth of color that differed from the muted tones preferred by his contemporaries. In the 1880s, his output culminated in four large-scale triptychs: The Judgment of Paris, The Hesperides, Three Saints on Horseback, and The Wooing.
Legacy and Provenance
Marées spent his final years in Rome under the patronage of Fiedler, passing away in 1887 at age 49. He is buried in the city's Protestant Cemetery. The historical trajectory of his work remains subject to institutional scrutiny; for instance, the painting Die Labung was seized by the Nazi regime in 1935. It entered the collection of the Museum Wiesbaden in 1980, where it was initially displayed with its reverse side exposed until the museum acquired it legitimately via donations.
Fast facts
- Born: 1837, Elberfeld
- Died: 1887, Rome
- Occupations: Painter, draftsperson, fresco painter
- Movement: Symbolism
- Education: Prussian Academy of Arts
- Buried: Protestant Cemetery, Rome
Questions readers ask
What subjects did Marées paint?
He initially focused on portraiture before shifting his emphasis to mythological scenes and landscapes.
How did he die?
He died in Rome in 1887 at the age of 49.
Achievements
- Movement: Symbolism
