Ferdinand Pettrich
Friedrich August Ferdinand Pettrich ( born December 3, 1798 in Dresden, † February 14, 1872 in Rome ) was a German artist and sculptor.
Life
Ferdinand Pettrich was born the son of the Dresden court sculptor and professor of the Dresden Royal Saxon Academy of Art Franz Pettrich, on the 3rd or December 5, 1798 in Dresden. Already in his youth he worked with in his father's workshop and acquired the foundations for his future artistic career on. After school, he began studying at the Art Academy in Dresden skilled sculptor and drawing. He then undertook a study trip to Italy and studied at the Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen and teachers. In his workshop created the two reliefs The day and the night, and a graceful delicate female figure seated with fishing rod, employees at Walhalla frieze in the studio of Martin Wagner. In 1827 he married Anna in Rome Michelina Baldassari.
Life in America
He undertook in 1835 with his wife and three sons, a trip to America and lived first in Philadelphia and later in Washington's neighboring city of Georgetown. He worked independently in his own workshop and made several busts of famous personalities, including politicians in America, for example, the statue of George Washington. In Washington he met a number of representatives of the American Indians ( Native Americans ) on the occasion of negotiations with the U.S. government, to whom he felt very attracted to. He made many sketches and drawings, and modeled a large number of busts, reliefs and sculptures of these people who would later be known as "Indian Museum ". Clearly showed these works the pride and dignity of the special people. In 1842, he was stabbed in his studio in Washington and seriously injured. For recovery, his doctors advised him to move to a warmer area.
Therefore, he moved with his family to Brazil, arriving in April 1844 in Rio de Janeiro, where he continued his artistic work fine. He was (Dom Pedro II ) appointed court sculptor of the Brazilian Emperor Peter II and, in turn, produced a variety of busts and some statues, mostly of personalities at the imperial court, for his "Indian Museum ".
In August 1857 Pettrich returned to Europe, his exhibition " Indian Museum " in London.
Life in Italy
In May 1858 he returned to his second home to Rome. Pope Pius IX. acquired the extensive works for a life annuity. His "Indian Museum " comprises 33 works in late classical style, there are bas-reliefs, large lifelike sculptures, about 16 busts and nine preliminary designs (small designs, samples ) of plaster, which are painted terra cotta. This unique collection of Native Americans was first exhibited in the museum of St. John Lateran ( the Vatican), and later in the Missionary - Ethnological Museum as part of the Vatican Museums. In addition to his large still images he created a number of busts, statuettes and medallions. Equally extensive is its custom built drawings. He died on 14 February 1872 in Rome and was buried in the German cemetery in the Vatican.