Walther Firle

Walther Firle (1859–1929), German, Walther Firle, born on August 22, 1859, in Breslau, emerged as a distinguished German portrait and genre painter, whose works notably served as models for the postage stamps of the Kingdom of Bavaria. The son of a merchant, Firle's artistic inclinations led him to pursue painting against his family's initial wishes, enrolling at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich in 1879. There, he studied under the tutelage of Alois Gabl, Gabriel von Hackl, and Ludwig von Löfftz, though financial constraints forced him to leave his studies unfinished in 1882.
Firle's artistic journey took him across Italy and Holland before settling in Munich, where he became a member of the Munich Artists' Association. His early recognition came with the acquisition of his painting 'Morgenandacht in einem holländischen Waisenhause' by the Berlin National Gallery. By 1890, his talent was officially acknowledged when he was appointed royal professor. Firle's legacy is particularly marked by his portraits of notable figures such as Prince Regent Luitpold of Bavaria, Nikolaus Count von Seebach, Ludwig III of Bavaria, and President Paul von Hindenburg, with his depictions of Bavarian royalty immortalized on the nation's stamps. His works were exhibited in prestigious venues across Europe, including the Munich Glass Palace and the Great Berlin Art Exhibition. Firle passed away in Munich on November 20, 1929, leaving behind a rich artistic heritage that bridged the personal and the regal.