Emanuel Stöckler (24 December 1819, Nikolsburg - 5 November 1893, Bozen) was an Austrian painter, notable for his interior portraits.
Life and work
His father was a pharmacist who wanted him to become a doctor. His interests took another turn, however, and he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna, with the landscape painter, Thomas Ender, and Joseph Mössmer. In 1838 he was awarded the Gundel-Prize for excellence and began participating in the Acedmy's exhibits, which he continued to do annually for many years. In the mid-1840s, he went on a lengthy study trip that took him to Switzerland, Italy, and Istanbul.
On the way home, he lingered in Bucharest, where he painted for Gheorghe Bibescu, the Prince of Wallachia. In 1859, he had a studio in Venice. From 1875 to 1880, he served as a court painter in St. Petersburg, at the behest of the Tsarina, Maria Alexandrovna. Upon her death, he returned to Vienna.
During his lifetime, he was primarily known as a landscape painter, who created views from throughout Eastern and Southern Europe. At that time, trips to the Middle East were uncommon, so his Orientalistgenre scenes were quite popular. He was also an accomplished watercolorist. Today, his works are largely forgotten.