Johann Sperl

• Name — Johann Sperl • Birth Name — Johann Spörl • Born — 3 November 1840 • Birthplace — Buch, Kingdom of Bavaria • Died — 29 July 1914 • Place of death — Bad Aibling, Kingdom of Bavaria, German Empire • Known for — Painting • Training — Hermann Anschütz, Karl von Piloty, Arthur von Ramberg

Johann Sperl was born (as Johann Spörl) in Buch (now part of Nuremberg, Middle Franconia) in 1840 as an only child of Protestant parents. His father worked as an agricultural day laborer in the summer and as a wood worker in the winter. His mother worked as a housekeeper. The family lived in the next-door house of a homestead. • Illustration — Johann Sperl: Mädchen im Bauerngarten, c. 1885

In the spring of 1866 Arthur von Ramberg was called from Vienna to Munich and took over the master class in Munich. Since Sperl had a genial relationship with Ramberg he continued to be his pupil and left the academy only after Ramberg's death in 1875. Even though Sperl was a member of the Leibl-Circle his training under Ramberg was decisive in forming Sperl's style. In the early 1870s he demonstrated his mastery in several large compositions with many figures, but from 1875 onwards he painted smaller compositions. In 1878 he and Leibl moved to Berbling. In December of that year Max Liebermann moved from Venice to Munich, and Sperl met him sometime in 1879, most likely through Leibl. In the early 1880s Sperl became more involved with painting landscapes.

In winter of 1882 Sperl moved to Kraiburg which was recommended to him by friends for its location. In 1883 he moved to Willhelm Leibl's new studio in Bad Aibling, Upper Bavaria. In May 1899 Sperl traveled to Italy, visiting Florence, Siena and Venice. On the hot spring day of 24 May 1910, Sperl collapsed while painting on a blooming meadow. He suffered a stroke which led to a partial paralysis of the right side of his body. On 23 July 1914, a few days before the outbreak of World War I, Sperl died in Bad Aibling. His last wish was to be buried next to his friend Wilhelm Leibl in the same graveyard in Würzburg.

Johann Sperl is recorded with the occupation draftsperson. Recorded as painter, draftsperson and lithographer. Recognition and collections.