KRUGER Frantz

September 10, 1797 (d Gros Badegast, duchy of Anhalt-Dessau) - January 21, 1857 (Berlin)

painter and graphic artist.

Born in a middle class family official Frederick Krueger. The first impulse to artistic pursuits activities received by ornithologist I. F. Naumann of the neighboring village Tsibigk that for scientific purposes sketched various species of birds. Attended school in Dessau, where he met with the landscape painters K. Kolbe, the senior, experienced in the early works of his influence. In 1812 he moved to Berlin, joined the Berlin Academy of Arts. After graduation went on to study independently. For some time filming in Berlin studio together with KF Zimmermann and A. von Kloyberom. Implemented a number of sketches of horses in the Royal stables.

In 1818, presented at the exhibition in the halls of the Berlin Academy of the military and hunting scenes. Soon creativity Kruger found patrons and customers in the face of Prince August of Prussia and Count Neidhardt von Gnaysenau. The artist has fulfilled a number of equestrian portraits with his retinue. Soon became one of the most famous and fashionable portrait painters and Naval Infantrymen Berlin, his art was awarded high marks contemporaries.

birthday of Friedrich Wilhelm III in 1824 Kruger created chalk portraits of eighteen members of the royal family, then the work was transferred to lithography. In the same year, the artist received a large order for a portrait of Grand Duke Nicholas. In this painting, now known as the "Parade in Berlin, the future Russian Emperor during a military parade on the square before the Opera House in Berlin shows the 4-th Brandenburg Cuirassiers Regiment, chief of which he was, Frederick William the Third. The artist worked on a new order for five years, based on songs now Vernet C. "Blessing banner Prussian regiments on the Champ de Mars in Paris».

In 1825 he married Johanna Oynike. In 1832, bought a house in Berlin, where he lived until his death. In those same years, was promoted to professor, was elected an honorary associate of the Academy freestyle Berlin Academy of Arts. In 1839-1840 he worked at the court of King of Hanover, in 1854 - at the court of the Dukes of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Repeatedly (1832, 1836, 1844-1845, 1847, 1850-1851) traveled to St. Petersburg, where he carried out orders of Nicholas I. It is noteworthy that in St. Petersburg artist created only sketches, preferring to finish the picture at home. So, in Berlin, was completed a huge gala portrait of Nicholas I and his retinue. Wrote Kruger also members of the imperial family, courtiers, created several portraits for the Military Gallery of the Winter Palace.

In 1846 went for Excellence in Paris, where he experienced some influence art E. Delacroix, which was reflected primarily in a greater diversity and depth of light and shadow modelirovok. In 1848 due to illness a few months he lived in Dessau, where he graduated from the picture, which was ordered in pandanus to "Parade in Berlin" (1829).

known as a portraitist, and as animal painter, famous for his depictions of horses (for which he received the nickname "horse Kruger »).

buried at the cemetery Dorotheum before the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.

For early works of the artist is characterized by saturation, richness of color, with clarity and even a certain stiffness of the picture. The heyday of the master's account at the end of 1820 - 1840, when his paintings have found the harmony of colors and shapes. After the return from Paris, a picturesque style Kruger has changed: he returned to strictly the linear pattern, was the basis of painting. In general, Kruger features monumental works, the use of similar compositional schemes. In carrying out the architectural elements in the scenes of parades and uniforms on the details of representative portraits often resorted to the services of other masters, including K. Beckman, G. Schwarz, E. Gertner, K. Graeba.

artistic heritage of the artist is very high: only pictures there are several thousand. Kruger's works are in many museums in Europe, including the State Tretyakov Gallery, State Hermitage Museum, the National Gallery in Berlin.