Otto Kirberg was an accomplished German painter of genre subjects - both contemporary and historical. He studied at the Düsseldorf Art Academy under Oswald Achenbach (1827-1905) and later at Wilhelm Sohn's (1829-1899) studio. In 1879, he undertook a lengthy tour of the Netherlands where he developed a love for the Dutch Golden Age.

For the rest of his career, he enjoyed depicting precise scenes featuring figures within interiors, inspired by the masters of the past and a traditionalist at heart. He's represented at the National Gallery in Berlin.

Exhibited

Düsseldorf, Vienna, and Berlin.

Public Collections

National Gallery in Berlin.

Timeline

1850

Born in Elberfeld, Germany.

1869

Enrolled at the Düsseldorf Art Academy and trained under Oswald Achenbach.

Fought in the Franco-Prussian War.

Studied in Düsseldorf in the studio of Wilhelm Sohn, a painter of genre and biblical scenes.

1876

His work, ‘The Sacrifice of the Sea’, was acquired by the Nationalgalerie Berlin.

1877

Awarded a Gold Medal for ‘The Sacrifice of the Sea’.

1879

Undertook a lengthy study trip to the Netherlands.

1926

Died in Düsseldorf, Germany.