Franz Linder (1738 – 1802): A Pioneer of German Portraiture Franz Linder, born in Germany around 1738, stands as a pivotal figure in the history of German portrait painting during the Baroque era. Though overshadowed by more celebrated contemporaries like Rembrandt and Rubens, Linder’s meticulous observation and expressive handling of pigment established him as one of the foremost artists documenting the aristocratic families of his time – particularly those residing in Bavaria. His legacy resides not merely in quantity but in quality: a remarkable concentration of portraits that exemplify t…