Through The Window Fondly Looking

Gabriel Schachinger, a distinguished German painter, was born on March 31, 1850, in Munich, where he would spend the majority of his life and career. The son of a gilder, Schachinger pursued his artistic education at the Munich Academy of Fine Arts, studying under the tutelage of Hermann Anschütz, Alexander von Wagner, and Karl von Piloty, figures who were instrumental in shaping his artistic direction. His talent earned him a Bavarian state scholarship, which allowed him to study in Italy from 1876 to 1878, an experience that undoubtedly influenced his artistic style and thematic choices. Upon his return to Munich, Schachinger established himself as a prominent artist, known for his portraits, floral still lifes, and genre paintings. Among his notable commissions were a ceiling painting for the Kurhaus in Wiesbaden and a curtain for the Munich Court Theatre, showcasing his versatility and skill. He also painted portraits of Bavarian kings Max II and Ludwig II for the Bavarian Reichsratskammer's meeting room, with his most famous work depicting King Ludwig II in the regalia of the Grand Master of the Order of St. George, now housed in the Herrenchiemsee Palace Museum. Schachinger's personal life was marked by his marriage to Amalia Fruhmann in 1881, with whom he had five children, including the opera and concert singer Irene Volkhardt and the painter and conductor Walter Schachinger. The family's legacy is further cemented by the establishment of the Schachinger art supplies company by his brother Fritz, which became a royal Bavarian court supplier. Gabriel Schachinger passed away on May 9, 1912, in Eglfing, leaving behind a body of work that reflects the rich cultural and artistic milieu of 19th-century Germany. He and his wife are buried in the Alter Südfriedhof in Munich.