Ernst Julius Hähnel
Ernst Julius Hähnel (9 March 1811 – 22 May 1891) was a German sculptor and Professor at the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts. He is especially remembered for his public statuary. His works of art can be admired throughout Germany.
Also recorded as Ernst Julius Hahnel
Ernst Julius Hähnel

Ernst Julius Hähnel · Wellcome Collection, London · Wellcome Collection · Public Domain Mark
- Born
- 9 March 1811
- Died
- 22 May 1891
- Birthplace
- Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony
- Education
- Dresden Academy of Fine Arts, Academy of Fine Arts, Munich
- Awards
- Pour le Mérite, Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art (1861)
- Nationality
- Kingdom of Saxony.
- Occupation
- sculptor and teacher.
- Honours
- Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts order and Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art.
- Languages
- German.
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Documentary summary
Ernst Julius Hähnel (9 March 1811 – 22 May 1891) was a German sculptor and Professor at the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts. He is especially remembered for his public statuary. His works of art can be admired throughout Germany.
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wikidata · Q567374 · wikipedia · Ernst Julius Hähnel
In this article
Biography
Biography
Ernst Julius Hähnel studied at Dresden Academy of Fine Arts. The recorded working language is German. Places of work recorded in the authority are Dresden. Employment is recorded with Dresden Academy of Fine Arts. Distinctions recorded are Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts order and Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art.
Key facts
Key facts
• Born — 9 March 1811 • Died — 22 May 1891 • Birthplace — Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony • Resting Place — Old Catholic Cemetery, Dresden • Notable Works — Beethoven Monument, Bonn • Education — Dresden Academy of Fine Arts, Academy of Fine Arts, Munich • Place of death — Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony • Awards — Pour le Mérite, Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art (1861) • Illustration — Maenad and the Panther by Ernst Julius Hähnel 1886, Albertinum, Dres • Illustration — Replacement gravestone for Ernst Hähnel in the Old Catholic Cemetery in Dresden
Life
Life
He was born in Dresden, then part of the Kingdom of Saxony, on 9 March 1811. He originally studied architecture at the Dresden Academy then, in 1826, went to the Academy of Fine Arts, Munich, where he remained until 1831 and later switched to sculpture after taking classes with Ernst Rietschel and Ludwig Schwanthaler. He took a study trip to Rome and Florence and returned to Munich, living there from 1835 to 1838, when he was appointed to the Dresden Academy. Upon arriving there, Gottfried Semper entrusted him with the preparation of some sculptures for the new Semperoper (Opera House). In 1845, he created the Beethoven Monument in Bonn, the work which made him famous. He became a full Professor at the Dresden Academy in 1848. Johannes Schilling and Christian Behrens were among his best-known students. In 1859, he received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Leipzig and, in 1883, became an Honorary citizen of Dresden. He died on 22 May 1891 and is buried in the Old Catholic Cemetery in south Dresden. The original grave was removed due to the German practice of requiring ongoing payments by relatives not being paid, but was replaced by a new grave in April 2016.
Selected works
Selected works
• 1867: Statue of King Frederick Augustus II of Saxony in Dresden • 1874: Equestrian statue of Count Frederick William, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel in Braunschweig • 1874: Plaque of Ludwig Tieck at the former location of his home near the Altmarkt in Dresden • Illustration — Beethoven Monument, Bonn (1845) • Illustration — Emperor Charles IV in Prague (1848) • Illustration — Equestrian statue of Karl Philipp Fürst zu Schwarzenberg in Vienna (1867) • Illustration — Theodor Körner Monument in Dresden (1871) • Illustration — Leibniz Monument in Leipzig (1883)
Other notable works
Other notable works
• Raphael, Albertinum, Dresden
Identity
Identity
Ernst Julius Hähnel is recorded as having received Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts order and Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1811
Ernst Julius Hähnel born at Dresden.
1891
Ernst Julius Hähnel died at Dresden.
References
Citations
References
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Further particulars
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Further particulars
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The authorities additionally record the heading Ernst Julius Hahnel. His recorded language was German. Other recorded relations include Paul Ernest and Randy Heitmann. Hähnel received Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts order and Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art.
Identity and origins
Recognition and collections
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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