Lorenz Clasen
Illustration — Lorenz Clasen (1871), drawing by Hermann Scherenberg • Illustration — Germania at Watch on the Rhine (1860) Lorenz Clasen (14 December 1812 – 31 May 1899) was a German history painter and author; best known for his frequently reproduced painting, "Germania auf der Wacht am Rhein" (Germania at Watch on the Rhein), in the town hall of Krefeld, which was inspired by the popular song Die Wacht am Rhein.
Also recorded as lorenz clasen · lorenz classen · professor l. clasen · l. clasen
Lorenz Clasen
Hermann Scherenberg · Illustrierte Zeitung, Bd. 57 (1871), S. 180. · Public domain
- Born
- 1812 · Düsseldorf.
- Died
- 1899 · Leipzig.
- Nationality
- Kingdom of Prussia
- Occupation
- painter · art historian · writer
- Fields
- portrait
- Education
- Kunstakademie Düsseldorf
- Languages
- German
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Illustration — Lorenz Clasen (1871), drawing by Hermann Scherenberg • Illustration — Germania at Watch on the Rhine (1860) Lorenz Clasen (14 December 1812 – 31 May 1899) was a German history painter and author; best known for his frequently reproduced painting, "Germania auf der Wacht am Rhein" (Germania at Watch on the Rhein), in the town hall of Krefeld, which was inspired by the popular song Die Wacht am Rhein.
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wikidata · Q1246958 · wikipedia · Lorenz Clasen
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Biography
Biography
He was born in Düsseldorf. At the request of his father, he began by studying law at the University of Bonn, but switched to the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf in 1829, where he studied art with Rudolf Wiegmann instead. His early works were mostly religious in nature. In addition to painting, he worked as an art critic; providing reviews for numerous local and foreign publications. In 1842, he moved to Neuwied, where he served as a tutor for Prince Maximilian. Over the next few years, he produced historical paintings and created frescoes for the Elberfeld Town Hall (now the Von der Heydt Museum). During the Revolution, Clasen served as a Deputy Commander of the Bürgerwehr (Vigilance committee). When his cousin, Lorenz Cantador, resigned, he was promoted to Commander. From 1847 to 1849, he was Chief Editor of the Düsseldorfer Monathefte, a satirical monthly. Then, after a brief stay in Berlin, he settled permanently in Leipzig sometime in the early 1850s. While there, he served as an editor at the Familien-Journal. Later, he produced "Germania at Watch by the Sea", but it never became as popular as the original. Clasen died in 1899 in Leipzig.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1812
Lorenz Clasen was born in 1812 at Düsseldorf.
1899
Lorenz Clasen died in 1899 at Leipzig.
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Düsseldorf.
Birth place
Leipzig.
Death place
Selected writings
• Lagerscenen, gesammelt auf dem Manöver zu Salzkotten, (Camp Scenes, Collected on Maneuvers in Salzkotten...a Humorous Essay), 1836 • Des Kunstfreundes Reiseabenteuer (An Art-Friendly Travel Adventure), Hoffmann & Campe 1847 (Published under the name "Lorenz Hempel") Full Text online @ Google Books • Der Einzug des Teufels in Leipzig, von einem Inspirirten – ein Büchlein für Kluge und Dumme (The Entry of the Devil into Leipzig...an Inspirational Book for the Wise and Foolish), originally confiscated on grounds that it "offended the church", but later reissued. • Erlebtes und Verwebtes; aus der Schreibmappe eines Malers. (The Everyday and the Strange: From a Painter's Notebook), Novellas.
Primary material
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reference work
- “Lorenz Clasen”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q1246958: Lorenz Clasen
General reference · Wikidata
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Notes from the source article
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- 1.Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie 47 496 497 Clasen, Lorenz Eduard Daelen ADB:Clasen, Lorenz
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General reference
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 17 August 2026.
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