Biography
Otto Knille was a leading German painter of history, genre and occasional portraits. He trained under Karl Ferdinand Sohn, Friedrich Wilhelm von Schadow, Thomas Couture and Karl von Piloty. He's represented in numerous public collections, including the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin.
Knille was an academic, training at the highest level and essentially remaining in a state of perpetual learning throughout his career. Born in Osnabrück, Germany, by the age of 16, he'd taken his first steps into the elite when enrolling at the highly renowned Düsseldorf Academy. This was followed by a period of study under history painter Emanuel Leutze, further training in Paris with Thomas Couture, and a spell in Munich under Karl von Piloty.
As a result, by the early 1860s, he'd amassed a breadth of artistic knowledge, particularly with regard to figure painting and history. It's no surprise that, when furnished with this education, he headed for Italy to witness the Renaissance masters first-hand, including works by Titian. Here, he would diligently copy, observe, and unpick - marvelling in the excellence of the luminaries.
It's often the case that when emerging artists are confronted with such works, they either crumble or live their entire artistic life striving for perfection. We're reminded of Joshua Reynolds, the 18th-century English portraitist, who falls into the latter type. However, Knille, when reflecting on this later in life, took a different view. He both respected the past masters, yet understood that their work should be seen in context.
He also appreciated that, by the late 19th century, young artists were right to develop their own identity - yet only when understanding the building blocks of what a "good painting" consists of. In his book 'Wollen und Können in der Malerei', written in 1897, he explained that 'painting well', is never out of fashion.
"In Lenbach's portraits, for example, a well-considered, old-fashioned tone should not obscure the fact that their main impression stems from the sharply defined, graphic quality of the subject's soul; in German genre painting - in Menzel, Knaus, Defregger - it is likewise the drawing that narrates, delights, moves, or amuses; color merely provides support."
He also conveyed his dismay at younger artists who experiment for the sake of it.
"Contemporary painting works with the noisy pumping mechanism of the will; self-confession emerges from the paintings; it is more about grasping than binding; all possible extremes of the probable and improbable are used for this purpose."
"Where pleasant stimulants fail, perhaps the allure of dull unpalatability, of the dull instead of the witty, still holds sway. Youth manifests itself under the sign of the sour herring. Many a fine talent squanders its energies in such fermentation. And yet it would be natural for it to sink into the fertile ground of diligence, education, and duty, in order to mature into good painting."
He closes with a quote from the philosopher, Friedrich Schiller (1759-1805).
"From the worst hand, truth can still work powerfully; With beauty, only the vessel determines the content."
In other words, he's encouraging artists to understand the basic principles first - learn how a pencil alone can communicate the spirit of a person or scene. Only then seek to add decorative effect with colour.
Knille led a remarkable career, becoming a professor at the Prussian Academy of Arts and later the head of a master studio. His oeuvre includes commissions from King George V and the Queen of Hanover. However, it's fair to say that he didn't achieve huge continuing success with the buying public, as during the 19th century, allegorical scenes and historical depictions were less favourable than landscapes, portraits, or everyday genre.
However, his depth of wisdom and respect for the numerous chapters of art history remain with us today as a gentle reminder that underpinning every enduring work is a simple connection between the artist and their subject.
Known For
- History painting.
- Mythological and literary subjects
- Academic compositions
- Occasional portraiture
Student Of
- Karl Ferdinand Sohn
- Friedrich Wilhelm von Schadow
- Emanuel Leutze
- Thomas Couture
- Karl von Piloty
Lived In
- Osnabrück
- Düsseldorf
- Paris
- Munich
- Italy
- Hanover
- Berlin
Public Collections
- Neue Nationalgalerie, Berlin
- Museum Hannover
- Various institutional and royal collections in Germany and Austria
Timeline
1832
Born in Osnabrück, Germany, as Carl Christian Lorenz Georg Otto Knille. His father was Justus Georg Knille (1803-1881), an administrative official.
Initially trained by a local landscape painter after displaying early talent.
1848
Enrolled at the Düsseldorf Academy and studied under Karl Ferdinand Sohn, Theodor Hildebrandt and Friedrich Wilhelm von Schadow.
Studied under the history painter Emanuel Leutze.
1853
Moved to Paris and worked in the studios of Thomas Couture.
Moved to Munich and worked with Karl von Piloty. Departed in 1858.
1860-1862
Moved to Italy, where he copied, among other works, Titian's 'Assunta and Pietro Martyr'.
Moved to Hanover under the patronage of King George V and became a portrait painter for the nobility.
1865
Lived in Berlin, where he painted history paintings for the Prussian government. He also painted mythical scenes, including for the Queen of Hanover.
1873
Married Maria Elisabeth Kuhtz in Berlin.
1877
Became a professor at the Prussian Academy of Arts.
1885
Became the head of a master studio, succeeding L. Knaus.
1897
Published a monograph, "Wollen und Können in der Malerei" (Willingness and Ability in Painting).
1898
Died in Untermais, South Tyrol, Germany, while travelling through the Alps.