William Pape

Friedrich Georg William Pape (3 September 1859 – 13 December 1920) was a German painter and illustrator.

Early life

Pape was born on 3 September 1859 in Karlshütte near Rendsburg.[1]

He initially studied philosophy and natural sciences at the University of Berlin before attending the Academy of Arts in Berlin. He received further lessons from Hermann Prell and at the Académie Julian in Paris from Jules-Joseph Lefebvre and Jean-Joseph Benjamin-Constant. He went on painting trips to Italy, Denmark and Russia.[1]

Career

Pape's One Empire, One People, One God, 1896
The Royal Family in Park Sanssouci: Wilhelm II, the Empress and the eldest princes, 1891[2]

Pape painted highly detailed large-scale paintings, known as vedutas, in Berlin, but specialized primarily in history painting. His painting, One Empire, One People, One God (German: Ein Reich, Ein Volk, Ein Gott), which depicted the 18 January 1896 celebration marking the 25th anniversary of the founding of the German Empire, attracted the attention of the German court, who purchased the painting, which was owned personally by Kaiser Wilhelm II. The Kaiser also personally owned Paper's 1898 painting, Confirmation of the Crown Prince and Prince Eitel Friedrich (German: Die Konfirmation des Kronprinzen und des Prinzen Eitel Friedrich).[1]

At the time of his death, he was vice-president of the Berlin Academy.[3]

Portraits

Pape was also a sought after portrait artist and was able to personally portray both the Emperor and his family several times, including, The Royal Family in Park Sanssouci: Wilhelm II, the Empress and the eldest princes..[4] He also painted portraits of many politicians, academics, artists, and aristocrats of the German Empire (many of which are held at the Berlinische Galerie),[5] including:

Stamps

1918 stamps featuring Pape's paintings

Beginning in 1900, One Empire, One People, One God and The Unveiling of the Kaiser Wilhelm I Monument in Berlin served as a template for the 5 and 3 Reichsmarks, respectively.[6]

Personal life

Pape died on 13 December 1920 in Stockholm, Sweden after being struck by a car.[3] He had been in Sweden to paint the presentation of the Nobel prizes.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c Jansa, Friedrich (1912). Deutsche Bildende Künstler in Wort und Bild (in German). Jansa. p. 434. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  2. ^ Clark, Christopher (6 September 2007). Iron Kingdom: The Rise and Downfall of Prussia, 1600-1947. Penguin UK. p. 12. ISBN 978-0-14-190402-3. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  3. ^ a b "GERMAN PAINTER KILLED BY MOTOR". Western Daily Press. 15 Dec 1920. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  4. ^ Schulze, Hagen (1998). Germany: A New History. Harvard University Press. p. 169. ISBN 978-0-674-00545-7. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  5. ^ Hickmann, Ellen; Symposium, International Study Group on Music Archaeology (2004). Music-archaeological sources. M. Leidorf. p. 196. ISBN 978-3-89646-645-7. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  6. ^ Barnsdall, W. Percy (1908). "Countries of the World". Gibbons Stamp Weekly. Stanley Gibbons: 242. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  7. ^ "FAMOUS ARTIST KILLED. William Pape Had Gone to Sweden to Paint Prize Picture". The Morning News. 16 Dec 1920. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
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