17 Facts About Franz Defregger

Franz Defregger was an Austrian artist known for producing genre art and history paintings set in his native county of Tyrol.

Franz Defregger was born on 30 April 1835 at the Ederhof in Stronach, Tyrol in the Austrian Empire.

Franz Defregger was the second son of Maria and Michael Defregger, a farmer, who had five daughters.

Franz Defregger soon became a member of a local band in Dolsach, playing at weddings, assemblies, and balls.

Franz Defregger displayed an early talent for drawing and woodcarving, which he developed autodidactically while working on his father's farm.

Franz Defregger moved to Innsbruck and studied woodcarving with the sculptor Michael Stolz, a professor at the Innsbrucker Trade School.

At Piloty's suggestion, Franz Defregger attended a preparatory class at the Academy with Hermann Dyck.

On 19 July 1861, Franz Defregger passed the entrance examination and was accepted into the Academy.

Franz Defregger enrolled at the Ecole des beaux-arts on the recommendation of Alexander Laemlein.

Franz Defregger's paintings were popular, and he soon became successful as an artist.

Franz Defregger was professor of history painting from 1878 to 1910 at the Munich Art Academy.

Franz Defregger preferred portraits, rustic motifs from the everyday life, and dramatic scenes from the Tyrolean national uprising of 1809.

In 1883, Franz Defregger was given the Order of Merit of the Bavarian crown, and was made a Knight of the collected personal nobility.

Franz Defregger received numerous prizes and awards, including the Prussian Order of Merit for Science and the Arts.

Franz Defregger's students included the Groden artists Josef Moroder Lusenberg and Hans Perathoner, Lovis Corinth, Robert Koehler, Walter Thor, Hugo Engl, Emma von Muller and many others.

Franz Defregger worked alongside other artists in the studio, especially Rudolf Epp, developing a style consistent with the Munich school.

Franz Defregger died in Munich in 1921 at the age of 85.