Albert Zimmermann

Albert Zimmermann (1809–1888), German, August Albert Zimmermann, born on September 20, 1809, in Zittau, Germany, emerged as a distinguished figure in the realm of landscape painting during the 19th century. As the eldest among his siblings, Max, Robert, and Richard Zimmermann, who also ventured into the arts under his guidance, Albert's artistic journey began at the age of 21 when he self-taught himself into the discipline of landscape painting. His pursuit of formal education led him to the academies in Dresden and subsequently Munich in 1831, where he not only honed his craft but also established a renowned school for landscape painting. Zimmermann's academic and artistic contributions were further recognized in 1857 when he was appointed as a professor at the Milan Art Academy, a position that saw his favorite pupil, Adalbert Waagen, follow in his footsteps. The subsequent years saw Zimmermann relocating to Vienna, where he served at the Academy of Fine Arts until 1872, before moving to Salzburg in 1880 and finally settling in Munich in 1884 or 1885, where he passed away on October 18, 1888.
Zimmermann's oeuvre is celebrated for its heroic-historical landscape paintings, characterized by grandiose and stylized depictions of mountainous terrains, often adorned with biblical motifs. His work, inspired by the likes of Joseph Anton Koch and Bonaventura Genelli, also includes natural portraits illuminated with a poetic sensibility. Despite the passage of time, Zimmermann's legacy endures, marked by his contributions to the art world and his influence on subsequent generations of artists, including his brothers and pupils. His life and work are documented in various biographical lexicons and encyclopedias, attesting to his significance in the annals of German art history.