Maulbertsch Maulpertsch, Franz Anton

Maulbertsch (Maulpertsch), Franz Anton, baptized at Langenargen on Lake Constance (Germany), June 7, 1724, d. Vienna, Aug. 8, 1796, main representative of late Austrian baroque painting, son of the painter Anton M. Continued to develop and perfect the Austrian baroque tradition of P. Troger. From 1739 in Vienna. Student of P. van Roys, later of van Schuppens. M. worked in Vienna, Lower Austria, Hungary, Bohemia, Moravia, Dresden and Innsbruck, created ceiling paintings in palaces, churches and monasteries. Was influenced by Italian (G. B. Piazetta, G. B. Pittoni, G. B. Tiepolo, etc.), Bavarian and Austrian painters (J. E. Holzer, P. Troger) as well as by Rembrandt, whose works he knew from copper engravings. M. created dramatic, bold paintings in splendid colours, genre paintings, portraits and graphic works. From the middle of the 1760s onwards he tended towards greater clarity and order and finally adopted a classicist style (Classicism ).

Works: Vienna: Piaristenkirche (Frescos 1752/53, High altar painting 1755/56, lost); Frescos in the Jesuit Church "Am Hof",1753; Old University. - Lower Austria: Church at Schwechat,1765; Pilgrim's church Heiligenkreuz-Gutenbrunn, 1757/58 (also panel paintings); Korneuburg Augustine church (altar fresco, Last Supper, 1773); vicarage Mistelbach (library, 1760); Ebenfurth (ceiling fresco 1754). - Burgenland: Halbturn (ceiling fresco, 1766). - Hungary: works in Vac, Kalocsa and Györ. - Czech Republic: Kremsier and Strahov in Prague. - Many pictures and drawings in the Austrian Baroque Museum (Lower Belvedere) and in the Albertina in Vienna.

Literature: K. Garas, F. A. M. Leben und Werk (with catalogue of works), 1974; F. M. Haberditzl, F. A. M., 1977; K. Möseneder, F. A. M. Aufklärung in der barocken Deckenmalerei, 1993; E. Hindelang, F. A. M. und der Wr. Akademiestil, 1994; NDB.