Wilhelm von Gloeden built an artistic legacy centered in Taormina, Italy, where he produced pastoral nude studies of local Sicilian boys. Initially arriving in the region to address lung disease, he transformed the town into a destination for international tourists while pioneering the use of photographic filters and specialized skin preparations to achieve his signature aesthetic.
Early Background and Artistic Training
Born in 1856 in Völkshagen, he was the son of forest inspector Carl Hermann von Gloeden and Charlotte Maassen. Despite later claims of baronial origins, he belonged to a branch of the German family von Glöden without hereditary titles. He studied painting at the Weimar Saxon-Grand Ducal Art School under Karl Gehrts starting in 1876. Tuberculosis forced him to suspend his studies for a recovery period in Görbersdorf, a mountain sanatorium.
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Seeking a more suitable climate, he relocated to Italy, staying in Naples and Capri before settling in Taormina. He purchased a home near the San Domenico Convent. His photography career began as a hobby, though he eventually gained professional technical instruction from local pharmacist and photographer Giuseppe Bruno. He also collaborated with nearby figures such as Giovanni Crupi and his cousin, the photographer Guglielmo Plüschow.
Technique and Professional Reach
His photographic method involved the application of a mixture comprising milk, olive oil, and glycerin to mask skin blemishes on his models. He often employed props like amphoras and wreaths to evoke an idealized vision of antiquity. By 1893, he began exhibiting internationally, with shows in London, Berlin, Cairo, and Philadelphia. The publication of his work in the London-based journal The Studio elevated his public profile.
Social Impact and Final Years
His studio attracted notable visitors, including Oscar Wilde. He maintained a lifestyle that drew scrutiny, and he provided financial compensation to the models he employed. During the First World War, he was compelled to leave Italy to avoid internment as an enemy alien. In 1930, he sold his residence on the Piazza San Domenico in exchange for an annuity. He died in 1931 and is buried at the Taormina Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1856, Völkshagen
- Died: 1931, Taormina
- Occupation: Photographer
- Citizenship: Germany
- Burial Place: Taormina Cemetery
- Notable Works: Pictures by Wilhelm von Gloeden taken in Villa Barbaja
- Primary Working Location: Taormina
- Languages: German, Italian
Questions readers ask
Did he have formal training in photography?
No, his formal education was in painting. He learned photographic techniques from the local pharmacist and photographer Giuseppe Bruno.
Why did he leave Sicily for a period?
He was forced to leave Italy during the First World War to avoid internment as an enemy alien.
Achievements
- Notable work: Pictures by Wilhelm von Gloeden taken in Villa Barbaja
