Karl Woermann
Encyclopedia
Karl Woermann was a German
art historian and museum director. He was born in Hamburg
, studied at various universities (art history at Heidelberg
and Munich
), and traveled widely. In 1871 Woermann participated in the so-called "Holbein convention" in Dresden
, at which a number of prominent art historians convened to determine which of two versions of Hans Holbein the Younger
's Meyer Madonna was the original work.
He was called to the academy at Düsseldorf
in 1874 as professor
of the history of art and literature. In 1882 he became director of the picture gallery at Dresden
, of which he wrote the first scientific
catalogue (1897). To the Geschichte der Malerei, begun by Alfred Woltmann
, he contributed the part on antique painting, and after Woltmann's death completed the entire work. His work unites sound scholarship with sympathetic appreciation, and displays a generous attitude towards the research of others. He wrote, besides, several series of poems. His works include:
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
art historian and museum director. He was born in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, studied at various universities (art history at Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
and Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
), and traveled widely. In 1871 Woermann participated in the so-called "Holbein convention" in Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
, at which a number of prominent art historians convened to determine which of two versions of Hans Holbein the Younger
Hans Holbein the Younger
Hans Holbein the Younger was a German artist and printmaker who worked in a Northern Renaissance style. He is best known as one of the greatest portraitists of the 16th century. He also produced religious art, satire and Reformation propaganda, and made a significant contribution to the history...
's Meyer Madonna was the original work.
He was called to the academy at Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
in 1874 as professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of the history of art and literature. In 1882 he became director of the picture gallery at Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
, of which he wrote the first scientific
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
catalogue (1897). To the Geschichte der Malerei, begun by Alfred Woltmann
Alfred Woltmann
Alfred Woltmann was a German art historian. He was born at Charlottenburg, studied at Berlin and Munich, and was appointed professor of art history successively at the Polytechnicum in Karlsruhe and at the universities of Prague and Strasbourg...
, he contributed the part on antique painting, and after Woltmann's death completed the entire work. His work unites sound scholarship with sympathetic appreciation, and displays a generous attitude towards the research of others. He wrote, besides, several series of poems. His works include:
- Die Landschaft in der Kunst der alten Völker (1876)
- Die antiken Odysseelandschaften vom Equilinischen Hügel in Rom (1877)
- Kunst- und Naturskizzen aus Nord- und Südeuropa (1880)
- Was uns die Kunstgeschichte lehrt (fourth edition, 1894)
- Geschichte der Kunst aller Zeiten und Völker (three volumes, 1900-05)