Peter von Cornelius

Peter von Cornelius (1783-1867) was a distinguished German painter, born at Düsseldorf. In his early age he gave proof of artistic genius, which was carefully fostered by his father. He spent much time as a youth in studying and copying Raphael. Before he was 20 he decorated a church at Neuss with colossal figures in chiaroscuro. In 1810, he executed designs for Goethe's "Faust". In the year after went to Rome, where, along with others, he revived the old art of fresco painting, in which he excelled his rivals. The subjects of these were drawn from Greek pagan as well as Christian sources, his "Judgment" being the largest fresco in the world. The thought which inspires his cartoons, critics say, surpasses his power of execution. It should be added, he prepared a set of designs to illustrate the "Nibelungen".

Nearby pages
Peter's Pence, Peterborough, Peterhead, Peterhof, Peterloo