Emil Volkers

Emil Volkers (1831–1905), German, Emil Ferdinand Heinrich Volkers, a distinguished German painter renowned for his equine and genre paintings, was born on January 4, 1831, in Birkenfeld, then part of the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg. His early fascination with horses, sparked at a local post station, paved the way for his artistic journey. Volkers honed his craft at the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts under the tutelage of Ernst Wilhelm Rietschel and Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld before moving to the Munich Academy in 1852, where he studied with the celebrated horse painters Albrecht and Franz Adam. By 1857, he had settled in Düsseldorf, joining the esteemed artists' association 'Malkasten' and immersing himself in the vibrant art scene of the Düsseldorf School.
Volkers' artistry was deeply influenced by his frequent visits to stables and stud farms, including the renowned Trakehnen stud in East Prussia and the Celle State Stud, as well as the stables of Friedrich Alfred Krupp at Villa Hügel in Essen. His travels extended to Italy and Romania, enriching his oeuvre with diverse cultural and equestrian themes. A pinnacle of his career came in 1890 when he was awarded a gold medal at the Great Art Exhibition in Berlin. Volkers enjoyed the patronage of notable figures such as Prince Karl of Romania, who appointed him court painter in 1867, and Grand Duke Friedrich August of Oldenburg, who bestowed upon him the title of professor. His legacy continued through his sons, Fritz and Karl, who followed in his footsteps as horse painters, and Max, who ventured into figure and landscape painting. Volkers' work, characterized by its realistic portrayal of horses and its contribution to the genre of equestrian portraiture, remains a testament to his skill and passion for the subject.