Eduard Schmidt von der Launitz
Nicholas Charles Edward Schmidt of Launitz ( born November 23, 1797 in Grobin / Courland (now Grobina ); † December 12, 1869 in Frankfurt am Main ) was a German sculptor and art historian.
Life
Eduard von der Launitz was born on 23 November 1797, the youngest of nine children of a Lutheran provost of Grobin. After the death of his parents he came 1809 in the reformatory philanthropist to Vechelde in the Duchy of Brunswick. In 1815 he began to study law at the University of Göttingen as his guardian had destined him for a diplomatic career. In Göttingen he became a member of the Corps Curonia. Launitz interested but far more for art and art history. That's why he left the university in 1816 and moved to Rome, where he lived in the local art colony. He soon became a pupil of Bertel Thorvaldsen. His first independent work (1820 ) was a grave relief for his fallen brother in Leipzig.
1829 found him a series of misfortunes, including died within a few hours, a son and his wife, whom he married in 1823. He decided to return with his three young children in the home, but could not be persuaded by friends in Munich, for the time being to remain in Germany. He settled in Frankfurt am Main, where he henceforth until his death lived and worked most of the time. In addition to his artistic career, he worked primarily as a teacher, both at the Städel Art Institute in Frankfurt and at the Art Academy in Dusseldorf. His art historical lectures, which he held for over 30 years, attracted a wide audience. He published a series of art-historical essays.
In 1839 he married Therese of Soiron from Mannheim. After her death in 1861, he took only a few works, led his successful teaching but on. On December 12, 1869, he died.
Eduard Schmidt of Launitz is buried at Frankfurt 's main cemetery, where there are also a number of his works, including the mausoleum Reichenbach- Lessonitz.
Works
- Colossal bust of Justus Moser for Walhalla
- Memorial to Jakob Guiollett in Frankfurt am Main ( 1837)
- Many grave monuments, busts and reliefs, including at Frankfurt 's main cemetery
- Gutenberg monument on the horse market in Frankfurt ( 1857)
- Grave relief of the Countess Emilie of Reichenbach- Lessonitz (1857-1859)
- Decorative figures for public buildings in Frankfurt, including the Holy Spirit Hospital and the stock market
- Four statues for the palace of Principe Torlonia in Rome
- Tomb for the spa physician Dr. Georg Thilenius in Bad Soden am Taunus (1864 )
- Statue of the Russian trade for the Crystal Palace in Sydenham
- Bust of the poet Friedrich Rückert
- Monument to Simon Moritz von Bethmann in Frankfurt