[Born at Düsseldorf, in Prussia, 1787. Still living.]
A renowned painter of the later German school. He studied under Langer,
a disciple of the old school, who made enormous efforts to suppress the
romantic tendencies of his pupil, to check his imagination, and to
restrain his boldness. By a visit to Italy, however, Cornelius confirmed
the bent of his genius, and rendered the good intentions of Herr Langer
of no avail. His indomitable perseverance, hard study, and rare gifts,
soon enabled him to outstrip all rivalry. Whilst still young he was
invited to direct at Düsseldorf the School of Painting, which has proved
itself one of the most careful and successful nursing-mothers of Art in
Germany. In 1819, engaged by the King of Bavaria to decorate the Museum
of Sculpture then constructing at Munich. The subjects painted by
Cornelius in fresco for this Museum from the heroic myths of Homer and
Hesiod, are conceived with a rich imagination, and executed with
superior power. His cartoons illustrating the old “Nibelungen-Lied,”
and the “Faust” of Goethe, are equally remarkable. In 1825, appointed
Director of the Academy of Painting at Munich. In 1841, summoned to
Berlin by the King of Prussia, for whom Cornelius designed the “Shield
of Faith,” presented by his Majesty to his godson, the Prince of Wales.
Cornelius paints with the passionate sensibility and delicate perception
of a true poet. His copious imagination is never at fault, and his
ability to produce is as striking as his faculty of conception. Yet he
never oversteps the modesty of nature, or the confines of true art. He
is the worthy leader of a daily increasing school in Germany, which
attempts, and not unsuccessfully, to unite in art earnestness of
thought, activity, boldness, and freedom.
[By E. Hähnel. Plaster. 1852. In the possession of the artist. This
was the study for the head of the large statue of Cornelius which
Hähnel was commissioned to execute for the new museum at Dresden, and
which stands on the outside, amongst the artists of Germany.]