The ambitious transformation of Munich into a cultural center under Ludwig I of Bavaria provided the primary canvas for the career of Wilhelm von Kaulbach. Born in 1805 in the Principality of Waldeck, he rose from impoverished beginnings to become a central figure in 19th-century German muralism, university education, and large-scale book illustration.
Early Training and Migration
The son of an engraver and goldsmith, Kaulbach gained his initial artistic exposure through his father's trade. At seventeen, he secured admission to the Düsseldorf Academy of Fine Arts with the support of the sculptor Rauch. Under the mentorship of Peter von Cornelius, he mastered mural techniques, eventually following his teacher to Munich in 1824. When Cornelius relocated to Berlin in 1849, Kaulbach succeeded him as director of the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich, a position he retained until his death.
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Kaulbach sought to integrate architectural design with monumental painting, aiming for the creative fertility associated with Raphael and Michelangelo. During the 1820s, he contributed to various Munich buildings, including the Odeon and the royal palace, producing classical and allegorical frescoes. His early works often shifted between the grotesque and the grand, such as his illustration of a mental institution in Narrenhaus or his satirical depictions of 19th-century manners. Despite efforts to emulate Mediterranean styles, he remained rooted in the artistic traditions of Dürer and Holbein.
The History of Mankind Series
In 1846, after study periods in Venice and Rome, Kaulbach completed a significant oil painting for the New Pinakothek. This success led to a major commission for the Neues Museum in Berlin, where he produced a series representing the history of mankind. These six large-scale frescoes, finished in 1860, included The Tower of Babel and The Destruction of Jerusalem. Utilizing the water-glass technique to ensure permanence, he filled the grand staircase with allegorical figures of science, art, and law. These works were heavily damaged during the Second World War.
Illustrations and Recognition
Beyond his monumental wall paintings, Kaulbach maintained a prolific career as a book illustrator, producing sets for the works of Shakespeare and Goethe, as well as a folio edition of the Gospels. His professional contributions earned him the Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art in 1853 and the Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts. He also held membership in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Académie des beaux-arts. He died in 1874 and is buried at the Alter Südfriedhof.
Fast facts
- Born: 1805, Bad Arolsen
- Died: 1874, Munich
- Citizenship: Principality of Waldeck
- Primary Employment: Academy of Fine Arts, Munich
- Notable Award: Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art (1853)
- Burial Site: Alter Südfriedhof
- Primary Artistic Media: Fresco, oil painting, engraving
Questions readers ask
What major project did Kaulbach execute in Berlin?
He created six large-scale frescoes for the Neues Museum titled History of Mankind, which covered the history of civilization from the Tower of Babel to the Reformation.
What was his role at the Academy of Fine Arts?
He served as a university teacher and succeeded Peter von Cornelius as director of the Munich Academy in 1849, holding the office until his death.
