23 Facts About Maximilian Liebenwein

Maximilian Albert Josef Liebenwein was an Austrian-German painter, graphic artist and book illustrator, in the Impressionist and Art Nouveau styles.

Maximilian Liebenwein spent significant time in Vienna, Munich and Burghausen, Altotting, and took an active part in the artistic community in all three places.

Maximilian Liebenwein was an important member of the Vienna Secession, becoming its vice-president, and exhibiting with the group many times.

Maximilian Liebenwein's father was a merchant, running a laundry and selling clothes in Vienna and in Lilienfeld.

Maximilian Liebenwein's mother was the daughter of Joseph Kundrat, the personal valet of and a huntsman and forester for Emperor Franz Joseph, and his uncle was the pathologist and coroner Hans Kundrat.

Maximilian Liebenwein's grandfather kept a large library and a natural science collection, and helped fuel young Liebenwein's interest in poetry, legends and nature.

Julius Victor Berger, Maximilian Liebenwein's teacher, showed compassion to him, but he left the Academy in 1891.

In 1893, he was appointed lieutenant of Reserve Dragoon Regiment Kaiser Franz I Liebenwein's father broke his leg and needed help with the family business, and so Liebenwein could not attend classes regularly; this was a point of contention between von Trenkwald and Liebenwein, and he left the Special School in March 1893, spending several months as a "rider and hunter" on the Lilienfeld estate.

Maximilian Liebenwein spent four semesters at the Academy of Fine Arts, Munich, matriculating on 12 November 1895 and staying there until 1897.

From 1897, Maximilian Liebenwein lived as an independent painter in Munich, and ran painting classes.

In 1899, Maximilian Liebenwein established his residence and studio in the castle's largest tower, which he reworked as a together with his friend Paul Horst-Schulze.

Maximilian Liebenwein's works shown included Percival and several animal studies.

Maximilian Liebenwein did not follow Gustav Klimt in seceding from the Secession in 1905, even though he was invited to join.

Maximilian Liebenwein joined the Luitpold group in Munich in 1907; he exhibited in the Glass Palace between 1902 and 1912.

Maximilian Liebenwein's second son, Wolfgang Ferdinand, was born in 1911.

Maximilian Liebenwein volunteered for military service in 1914 and he was called up in June 1915; his wife Anna died from breast cancer in that year, in a sanatorium in Gmunden, while he was at the eastern front.

Maximilian Liebenwein was with the army in Poland, Russia, Isonzo and Bukovina, and produced many drawings in 54 sketchbooks.

Maximilian Liebenwein suffered a stroke in December 1917, and left the army in December 1918.

Post-war Vienna did not offer many opportunities for artists, and Maximilian Liebenwein moved back to Burghausen.

In February 1926, Maximilian Liebenwein suffered another stroke in Burghausen, and died in July 1926 in Munich.

Maximilian Liebenwein painted many fairy tale and legend cycles, particularly Greek mythology and mediaeval stories of chivalric romance, as well as religious images, including Marian pictures and the lives of the saints.

Maximilian Liebenwein created a number of bookplate designs, and was cited as being, with Emil Orlik, the most important Austrian artists in this particular niche.

Maximilian Liebenwein kept humour in his work, as well as excellent technical ability and a deep knowledge of his subject matter.