Franz Widnmann

He first attended school in Schrobenhausen and then at a Latin school in Neuburg. From 1862 he attended the drawing school of the Verein zur Ausbildung des Gewerbes, and later the Kunstgewerbeschule (School of Arts and Crafts or School of Applied Arts), in Munich, directed by Hermann Dyck. On 30 October 1862 he matriculated at the Munich Academy of Fine Arts for the antique class. His teachers were Karl Theodor von Piloty, Alexander Strähuber, Hermann Anschütz and Alexander Wagner. His early work was in decorative arts and design, collaborating on the publication Decorative Model published by Thienemann Verlag of Stuttgart. His first painting, Duke Alba at the Castle of Countess Catharina von Schwarzburg, won an award at the 1873 Vienna World's Fair. He painted murals for the Munich palace of Prince Leopold of Bavaria and Homecoming from the Hunt for the Schloss St Emmeram, of the Prince of Thurn und Taxis in Regensburg. A state scholarship enabled Widnmann to spend time in Italy. In the 1880s he was exclusively occupied with works for the palaces of the Bavarian king Ludwig II, especially for Schloss Herrenchiemsee. During 1878 and 1886 he designed figurative decoration for facades, designs for stucco decoration, wall fillings, girandoles, Meissen porcelain chandeliers, crystal chandeliers (executed by Lobmeyr in Vienna), and for clocks, writing instruments, centrepieces, and later, painting commissions. Further commissions were for the Linderhof Palace. In 1881 he became the 'Royal Professor', and on 1 May 1892 was appointed professor of the life class at the Kunstgewerbeschule. He also provided decorative design for public festivities, certificates, and stamp series for the Bavarian Post Office. In 1894 he designed the stained glass window of the Barfüßerkirche in Augsburg. He exhibited work in the Münchner Glaspalast. Widnmann died 30 August 1910 in Rodeneck in the Puster Valley. He was buried in the Old South Cemetery Munich.

• Name — Franz Widnmann • Born — 6 March 1846 • Birthplace — Kipfenberg, Kingdom of Bavaria • Died — 30 August 1910 • Place of death — Rodeneck, County of Tyrol, Austria-Hungary • Occupation — painter, graphic artist and professor • Illustration — Margaret of Parma before the Duke of Alba by Franz Widnmann (1873)

Franz Widnmann is recorded with the occupation graphic artist. Recorded with the occupation genre painter. Recorded as painter, draftsperson, art collector and graphic artist.