Carl Spitzweg Art

Carl Spitzweg (Born 1808) was born in Unterpfaffenhofen, Germany during the first decade of the 19th century. He is one of the artists who developed the German Romanticism movement. He grew up in Unterpfaffenhofen and was the second of three children born to Simon and Franziska Spitzweg. He never married and lived a “monastic life.” A graduate of the University of Munich, Spitzweg was awarded the credentials needed to practice as a pharmacist. In he course of his work, he fell ill and while recuperating he began copying the works of master Flemish painters. That’s how he became interested in painting, and he found he had some skill. After the death of his father his inheritance made him financially comfortable. Spitzweg began to devote all his time to painting in 1833 and continued to study on his own. He visited art centers around Europe in cities such as Venice, Paris, and London, where he perused the works of his contemporaries. Once in awhile, he toured with other artists. Spitzweg settled into a small upper floor room located in Rothenburg. It was from this room he was often seen taking in the scenes of small-town German while looking down at the world below. Some of his most recognizable works include Spanish Serenade and The Cactus Friend, but he is mostly known for The Poor Poet, a painting that gained much provenance and holds significance because it has been stolen twice during its existence. Today, many collectors stock large numbers of framed Carl Spitzweg art because they are in great demand.