Wortman Christian-Albert (Wortmann Christian Carl Albert)

1680 (Pomerania) - December 31, 1760 (St. Petersburg)

Engraver.

born in the family of the painter. In the 1700's he studied in Berlin at the famous engraver IG Wolfgang. Until 1717 he worked in Berlin, then moved to Kassel, where he obtained the post of court engraver, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg. From 1723 he worked in Leipzig, from 1724 - in Dresden. He performed the portraits of the Saxon King Friedrich August II by Louis de Silvestre painting and Swedish King Frederick with the original painting by Quintero, who created him a reputation for high quality, technical mastery masters.

In 1727 he was invited to the Russian service Secretary of the Academy of Sciences I. D. Schumacher, in 1728 arrived in St. Petersburg. In 1731, "for many festivities" deprived of his salary at the Academy of Sciences, but continued to perform for her prints of piecework payment. In 1735, the Academy concluded with him a new contract. Wortmann was asked to study engraving to several Russian students, including IA Sokolov, FE Mattarnovi, GA Katchalov, AA Greeks, EG Vinogradov and others.

in 1738 directed the publication of the album "House of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences, Library, Kunstkamery etc.», for which complied with several sheets. In 1740 engraved portrait of Anna Ioannovna from the original L. Caravaque. In early 1740-s engaged in the publication of Elizabeth's coronation album. In 1744, again dismissed. Worked at home.

Wortman - a leading master of reproduction prints 1730-x - 1740-x in Russia. He arrived in St. Petersburg is already a mature master, in many respects he is credited with the foundation of the Academy of Sciences Engraving Chamber, which was the largest center of engraving in the middle of the XVIII century.

worked primarily as a portraitist, for Russia's period of activity they had performed more than ten portraits. Most of his works engraved with a chisel on etching preparation, modeling in the face, hands are often used dotted line. Among his best works - portraits of Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich and Emperor Peter II (both - 1729) on the picturesque originals IP Lyuddena, two portraits of the Empress Anna Ioannovna by L. Caravaque (both - 1740) portrait of Count Peter Shuvalov by K. Prenneru (not earlier than 1746).

Prints engravings Wortman on modern antiques market are quite rare, despite the fact that they made the king's portraits were usually impressive runs, often exceeding a thousand copies. In addition, there are imprints of the late XIX century with the already erased boards.

Wortman Works are in many museum and private collections, including the State Russian Museum, State Historical Museum, the Pushkin Museum im. Pushkin, the State Hermitage Museum, the Scientific Research Museum of Russia Academy of Arts, the Scientific Library of Moscow State University, National Library of Russia and others.