Julius Lange
Julius Ludwig Christian Lange was born in Darmstadt on August 17, 1817 and died in Munich on June 25, 1878. He was a renowned German painter who belonged to the Düsseldorf School.
At the tender age of 15, Lange became involved in his brother, the art printer and publisher Gustav Georg Lange’s project “Views of the most beautiful regions of Germany in steel and copper engravings” (1832) through his collaboration with him. His other brother, the architect Ludwig Lange, was also involved in this important work. Lange studied at the renowned Düsseldorf Art Academy from 1836 to 1839 under the guidance of the renowned painter Johann Wilhelm Schirmer. Thanks to Schirmer’s support, Lange was later able to continue his artistic career in Munich. On June 23, 1850, he married Emilie Henriette Bettinger (1824-1896), the daughter of Carl Philipp Bettinger (1785-1857), Munich’s Oberappelations-Gerichtsrat.
His talent and dedication soon brought him major commissions and financial success. The Academy of Fine Arts in Venice commissioned him with a series of landscape sketches, while the Academy in Milan commissioned two important paintings. His stay in northern Italy also enabled Lange to forge links with the Milanese court. Until 1858, he held the position of art tutor to Archduchess Charlotte of Belgium, the future Empress of Mexico.
After his return to Munich in 1858, Lange also gained access to the royal court. His artistic skills impressed King Maximilian II, which led to Lange quickly gaining attention in Munich society. Even Maximilian’s son, King Ludwig II, acquired two of his landscape paintings for the Neue Pinakothek. Lange also created several watercolors and gouaches for Ludwig II, particularly in connection with the building projects for the Herrenchiemsee and Linderhof palaces, including French palace views and interior designs. One of Lange’s students was Karl Millner.
In 1860, Lange participated alongside his teacher Schirmer and other well-known artists in the work “The Great German Landscape School”, which presented original studies by these landscape painters in photographs by Georg Markwort.
Julius Lange died in Munich almost six weeks before his 61st birthday on June 25, 1878.