Arthur Fitger
Encyclopedia
Arthur Heinrich Wilhelm Fitger (4 October 1840 – 28 June 1909) was a German painter, art critic, playwright and poet.
Arthur Fitger was one of 10 children, son of The Grand Duchy of Oldenburg (Delmenhorst) Postmaster, Rathsherr Ratsherr Peter Diedrich Fitger (born 29 February 1804, died 14 November 1865) A Hereditary Title
from his father Rathsherr Heinrich Fitger before him granted to the lineal male Salic Law
descendants (Fitger) since battlefield action in the Seven Years' War
. Peter's wife was Clara Maria Caroline Plate ( her mother Caroline (Arthur's Grandmother) was raised the daughter of a Holsteinish Countess Reventlow on the Estate Noer and married Court Counsellor Franz Plate in 1800 in Eutin
.) Clara Maria Caroline née Plate widowed Dony (2 daughters) (born 29 May 1815, died 18 November 1891). Arthur Fitger grew up in the Grand Ducal Posthaus Delmenhorst which was also an Inn which functioned as stopover for change of horses (postillions) and Postal/Customs exchange between Oldenburg and Bremen ( part of the Thurn und Taxis
network of the Holy Roman Empire
His younger brother Emil Fitger (born 15 December 1848 in Delmenhorst, died 9 April 1917 in Bremen) was editor in chief of the Weser-Zeitung in Bremen for many years.
Arthur Fitger attended the Volks- und Rektorschule in Delmenhorst and then the gymnasium
in Oldenburg
, where he lived at the home of Baurat Otto Lasius (1797–1888). In 1858, Fitger went to the Akademie zu München, where he studied, particularly under Moritz von Schwind
(1804–1875). He went to Antwerp in 1861 and then to Paris
. From 1863 to 1865, he stayed in Rome
, supported by a scholarship from the Großherzog von Oldenburg. Then he spent the following years alternately in Vienna
und Berlin
before moving to Bremen in 1869.
In Bremen, Fitger decorated the Rembertikirche with two pictures, the lost son and the merciful Samariter, the Exchange with maritime allegories, the Haus Seefahrt and the Reichspostgebäude. Influenced by the war in 1870, he produced the portable artwork, Barbarossa's Awakening, which spread his reputation further. In 1875, he was given the task of decorating the Ratskeller
with murals. From 1883 to 1884 he painted large murals in the Kunsthalle Hamburg
.
Originally painting in the style of Peter von Cornelius
(1783–1867) and Bonaventura Genelli (1798–1868), he later used colour in a more modern manner, similar to Hans Makart
(1840–1884). Arthur Fitger was awarded a Gold Medal for his "Icarus" painting when exhibited at the 1892-1893 Chicago World's Fair (Columbian Exhibition)
Fitger was also well known for his writing. His plays, Adalbert von Bremen (Oldenburg 1873; 2nd edition with the sequel Hie Reich! Hie Rom!, 1875), Die Hexe (Oldenburg 1878, 4th edition 1885), Von Gottes Gnaden (2nd edition, Oldenburg 1884) have often been performed. He also wrote Albrecht Dürer, Johann Kepler and Michelangelo and the epic poem Roland und die Rose (1871) for the Bremer Künstlerverein. Fitger's most important written works are the poetry collections Fahrendes Volk (2nd edition, Oldenburg 1883) und Winternächte (Oldenburg 1880).
The most striking example of his criticism was a comment on an attempt by Marie Bock and Paula Becker
to exhibit in the Kunsthalle Bremen
at the end of 1899. It appeared in the Weser-Zeitung, which was edited by his brother, Emil, at the time:
which means:
However, his criticism was unable to prevent a breakthrough of the Künstlerkolonie Worpswede.
Arthur Fitger was one of 10 children, son of The Grand Duchy of Oldenburg (Delmenhorst) Postmaster, Rathsherr Ratsherr Peter Diedrich Fitger (born 29 February 1804, died 14 November 1865) A Hereditary Title
Hereditary Title
Hereditary titles, in a general sense, are titles, positions or styles that are hereditary and thus tend or are bound to remain in particular families....
from his father Rathsherr Heinrich Fitger before him granted to the lineal male Salic Law
Salic law
Salic law was a body of traditional law codified for governing the Salian Franks in the early Middle Ages during the reign of King Clovis I in the 6th century...
descendants (Fitger) since battlefield action in the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
. Peter's wife was Clara Maria Caroline Plate ( her mother Caroline (Arthur's Grandmother) was raised the daughter of a Holsteinish Countess Reventlow on the Estate Noer and married Court Counsellor Franz Plate in 1800 in Eutin
Eutin
Eutin is the district capital of Eastern Holstein located in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein. As of 2005, it had some 17,000 inhabitants....
.) Clara Maria Caroline née Plate widowed Dony (2 daughters) (born 29 May 1815, died 18 November 1891). Arthur Fitger grew up in the Grand Ducal Posthaus Delmenhorst which was also an Inn which functioned as stopover for change of horses (postillions) and Postal/Customs exchange between Oldenburg and Bremen ( part of the Thurn und Taxis
Thurn und Taxis
The Princely House of Thurn and Taxis is a German family that was a key player in the postal services in Europe in the 16th century and is well known as owners of breweries and builders of many castles.- History :...
network of the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
His younger brother Emil Fitger (born 15 December 1848 in Delmenhorst, died 9 April 1917 in Bremen) was editor in chief of the Weser-Zeitung in Bremen for many years.
Arthur Fitger attended the Volks- und Rektorschule in Delmenhorst and then the gymnasium
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
in Oldenburg
Oldenburg
Oldenburg is an independent city in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated in the western part of the state between the cities of Bremen and Groningen, Netherlands, at the Hunte river. It has a population of 160,279 which makes it the fourth biggest city in Lower Saxony after Hanover, Braunschweig...
, where he lived at the home of Baurat Otto Lasius (1797–1888). In 1858, Fitger went to the Akademie zu München, where he studied, particularly under Moritz von Schwind
Moritz von Schwind
thumb|Moritz von Schwind, c. 1860Moritz von Schwind was an Austrian painter, born in Vienna.Moritz von Schwind received rudimentary training and spent a happy and carefree youth in Vienna. Among his companions was the composer Schubert, some of whose songs he illustrated...
(1804–1875). He went to Antwerp in 1861 and then to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. From 1863 to 1865, he stayed in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, supported by a scholarship from the Großherzog von Oldenburg. Then he spent the following years alternately in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
und Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
before moving to Bremen in 1869.
In Bremen, Fitger decorated the Rembertikirche with two pictures, the lost son and the merciful Samariter, the Exchange with maritime allegories, the Haus Seefahrt and the Reichspostgebäude. Influenced by the war in 1870, he produced the portable artwork, Barbarossa's Awakening, which spread his reputation further. In 1875, he was given the task of decorating the Ratskeller
The Ratskeller in Bremen
thumb|300px|right||The Ratskeller around 1900The Ratskeller in Bremen is the cellar of the Town Hall of Bremen. Since it was erected in the year 1405, German wines were stored and sold there...
with murals. From 1883 to 1884 he painted large murals in the Kunsthalle Hamburg
Kunsthalle Hamburg
The Hamburger Kunsthalle is an art museum in Hamburg, Germany. The art museum focuses on painting in Hamburg in the 14th century, paintings by Dutch and Flemish artists of the 16th and 17th centuries, French and German paintings of the 19th century, modern, and contemporary art...
.
Originally painting in the style of Peter von Cornelius
Peter von Cornelius
Peter von Cornelius was a German painter.Cornelius was born in Düsseldorf.His father, who was inspector of the Düsseldorf gallery, died in 1799, and the young Cornelius was stimulated to extraordinary exertions...
(1783–1867) and Bonaventura Genelli (1798–1868), he later used colour in a more modern manner, similar to Hans Makart
Hans Makart
Hans Makart was a 19th century Austrian academic history painter, designer, and decorator; most well known for his influence on Gustav Klimt and other Austrian artists, but in his own era considered an important artist himself and was a celebrity figure in the high culture of Vienna, attended with...
(1840–1884). Arthur Fitger was awarded a Gold Medal for his "Icarus" painting when exhibited at the 1892-1893 Chicago World's Fair (Columbian Exhibition)
Fitger was also well known for his writing. His plays, Adalbert von Bremen (Oldenburg 1873; 2nd edition with the sequel Hie Reich! Hie Rom!, 1875), Die Hexe (Oldenburg 1878, 4th edition 1885), Von Gottes Gnaden (2nd edition, Oldenburg 1884) have often been performed. He also wrote Albrecht Dürer, Johann Kepler and Michelangelo and the epic poem Roland und die Rose (1871) for the Bremer Künstlerverein. Fitger's most important written works are the poetry collections Fahrendes Volk (2nd edition, Oldenburg 1883) und Winternächte (Oldenburg 1880).
Art critic
Fitger was regarded as an important person in art in Bremen around 1900. His art criticisms, published in the press, had a lasting influence on hanseatic taste in art. He was chairman of the Kunstverein, and kept a conservative outlook on art. He strongly criticised artists who followed fashions that were modern at that time, including the Künstlerkolonie Worpswede and the contemporary French painters.The most striking example of his criticism was a comment on an attempt by Marie Bock and Paula Becker
Paula Modersohn-Becker
Paula Modersohn-Becker was a German painter and one of the most important representatives of early expressionism. In a brief career, cut short by an embolism at the age of 31, she created a number of groundbreaking images of great intensity.-Life and work:Paula Becker was born and grew up in...
to exhibit in the Kunsthalle Bremen
Kunsthalle Bremen
The Kunsthalle Bremen is an art museum in the Hanseatic City Bremen, Germany.The Kunsthalle was built in 1849 and enlarged in 1902 by architect Eduard Gildemeister....
at the end of 1899. It appeared in the Weser-Zeitung, which was edited by his brother, Emil, at the time:
which means:
However, his criticism was unable to prevent a breakthrough of the Künstlerkolonie Worpswede.
Further reading
- Ulrich Thieme/Felix Becker (Begr.): Allgemeines Lexikon der bildenden Künste von der Antike bis zur Gegenwart. Band 12, Leipzig 1916, page 58
- Hans Friedl u.a. (Hrsg.): Biographisches Lexikon zur Geschichte des Landes Oldenburg. Oldenburg 1992, pages 194–196
- Georg von Lindern: Arthur Fitger Maler und Dichter 1840 -1909 Heimatverein Delmenhorst 1962
- Gerhard Wietek: 200 Jahre Malerei im Oldenburger Land ISBN 3-9801191-0-6
- Lilienthaler Kunststiftung: ...und sie malten doch! ISBN 978-3-00-021669-5