The Austrian 20-schilling banknote, which circulated until the introduction of the euro in 1999, featured the portrait of Moritz Michael Daffinger. A prolific contributor to the artistic landscape of the Habsburg monarchy, Daffinger maintained a career spanning from his early training as a porcelain painter to his status as a specialist in miniature portraits and floral studies.
Early Training and Porcelain Painting
Born in Vienna in 1790, Daffinger entered the professional sphere through the influence of his father, Johann Daffinger, who worked as a painter for the local Vienna Porcelain Manufactory. At age eleven, he began an apprenticeship at the same facility. He subsequently advanced his technical skills at the Academy of Fine Arts under the instruction of Heinrich Füger, eventually returning to the porcelain factory as a primary painter.
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Starting in 1809, he shifted his focus exclusively toward portraiture, developing expertise in miniature painting on ivory and small gouaches on paper. His professional standing solidified in 1812 when he gained employment as a portraitist for Klemens von Metternich, the Austrian Foreign Minister. Beyond his creative output, he served as the curator for the extensive portrait collection belonging to Princess Melanie, Metternich's third wife.
Artistic Influences and Later Work
Daffinger's style evolved through contact with international practitioners. He drew influence from Jean-Baptiste Isabey and the English portrait painter Thomas Lawrence, who visited Vienna in 1819. In the same year, he completed a portrait of Klementine, Metternich's daughter, depicting her as the goddess Hebe. During the final phase of his career, he moved away from portraiture to dedicate his time to floral painting.
Legacy and Death
The cholera epidemic in Vienna claimed Daffinger's life on 21 August 1849. He was initially interred at the St. Marx Cemetery, though his remains were relocated to a grave of honor at the Vienna Central Cemetery in 1912. He produced over one thousand portraits during his lifetime, with a substantial portion acquired by the House of Habsburg-Lorraine.
Fast facts
- Born: 1790, Vienna
- Died: 1849, Vienna
- Occupations: painter, illustrator, illuminator, etcher, draftsperson, porcelain painter, miniature painter
- Burial site: Vienna Central Cemetery
- Influences: Heinrich Füger, Jean-Baptiste Isabey, Thomas Lawrence
- Key patron: Klemens von Metternich
Questions readers ask
What subjects did Daffinger paint?
He focused on miniature portraits on ivory, small gouaches on paper, and later, floral compositions.
Where is he buried?
Following his death in 1849, he was buried at the St. Marx Cemetery, and his remains were moved to the Vienna Central Cemetery in 1912.
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