Hans Adam Weissenkircher

Hans Adam Weissenkircher (10 February 1646 – 16 January 1695) was an Austrian Baroque painter and court painter of the Prince Johann Seyfried von Eggenberg in Graz.

Hans Adam Weissenkircher
Mercury” from the Planetary Room of Schloss Eggenberg in Graz
Born
Hans Adam Weissenkircher

(1646-02-10)10 February 1646
Died16 January 1695(1695-01-16) (aged 48)
NationalityAustrian
EducationJohann Carl Loth
Known forPainting
MovementBaroque
Patron(s)Fürst Johann Seyfried von Eggenberg

Biography

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Weissenkircher was born in Laufen an der Salzach, which today lies on the Bavarian side of the Austrian - German border, into the family of a Salzburg artist. Like his fellow Laufen born contemporary, Johann Michael Rottmayr, he trained under the painter Johann Carl Loth who was born in Munich and ran an academy for German-speaking painters in Venice. Weissenkircher adopted much from Michelangelo Caravaggio's painting style. He traveled extensively during his studies, including to the important art and cultural centers of Rome, Florence and Bologna. He finally settled in Styria where he brought the style of the Italian Renaissance north to the court of the Princes of Eggenberg as court painter. He is responsible for numerous, well known works, most importantly the ceiling and wall paintings of the Planetary Room in Schloss Eggenberg which took 8 years from 1678 to 1685 to complete. Additionally, he was responsible for numerous paintings, altar paintings and high altars throughout Styria. He died in Graz, Styria, Austria.

 
Schloss Eggenberg, The Planetary Room

Selected works

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Paintings
Altar Paintings
High Altars

Literature

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  • Hans Adam Weissenkircher: Fürstlich Eggenbergischer Hofmaler. By Barbara Ruck. Graz: Landesmuseum Joanneum, 1985.
  • Schloss Eggenberg. By Barbara Kaiser. Graz: Christian Brandstätter Verlag, 2006. ISBN 3-902510-80-3 (English Edition) or ISBN 3-902510-96-X (German Edition)