Gustav Richter

The recorded working language is German. The field of work recorded is painting and lithography. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are portrait. Places of work recorded in the authority are Berlin. Work by Gustav Richter is recorded in the collections of Harvard Art Museums, Alte Nationalgalerie, Print Collection and Wallraf–Richartz Museum. Distinctions recorded are Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts order.

Born in Berlin, Richter began his studies at the academy there under Eduard Holbein, then was a pupil of Cogniet in Paris, and studied in Rome until 1849. From 1850 to 1852, accompanied by Gustav Heidenreich and Robert Müller, he painted decorative frescos depicting Norse gods above doorways in the Vaterländischen Saal of the Neues Museum in Berlin. The technical qualities of his "Raising of Jairus's Daughter" (1856, National Gallery, Berlin), painted for King Frederick William IV, aroused great enthusiasm on its exhibition, but both this and a large oil painting "Building of the Pyramids" (1859–72), Maximilianeum, Munich), ordered by the King of Bavaria, suffer from theatrical pathos. Recognizing the limitations of his talent, Richter confined himself thereafter to single figures and portraiture, in which he was more successful. The first of a series of aristocratic beauties was that of Princess Carolath (1872). Of several family groups, reflecting the artist's own domestic happiness, two called "Evviva!", the painter with his first-born, and "Maternal Happiness," the painter's wife (youngest daughter of Meyerbeer) with their second son, were among the gems of the exhibition in 1874. His maturest works combine thorough characterization with real pictorial qualities. Fine examples are: "Banker's Wife" (1876), "Countess Karolyi" (1878), and, best of all, the well-known ideal portrait of Queen Louise (1879, Cologne Museum). Mention should be made also of the portraits of Emperor William I (1876, 1877), Empress Augusta (1878), and General Count von Blumenthal (1883, unfinished, National Gallery, Berlin) and the wildly popular "Neapolitan Fisher Boy" (c. 1873).

The authorities additionally record the headings Gustav Karl Ludwig Richter, Gustav Carl Ludwig Richter, g. k. richter, gustav richter and g. richter. His recorded language was German. He married Cornelie Richter. 3 children are recorded: Raoul Richter, Hans Richter and Reinhold Richter.

Gustav Richter is recorded as a citizen of Kingdom of Prussia. Recorded with the occupation lithographer. Classed in the genre portrait.