The Life and Artistic Journey of Julius Muhr
Born in Pszczyna, Poland, Julius Muhr was the son of Abraham Muhr, a merchant and city councilor, and Helene Muhr. His father, a prominent figure in the Jewish community, encouraged his son's talent from a young age, leading Muhr to receive instruction at the Berlin Academy as a youth. His formal studies took him to the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Munich, where he studied under Peter von Cornelius. In 1847, he was commissioned by Wilhelm von Kaulbach to work alongside Michael Echter on the murals for the New Museum in Berlin. During this period, the artists created the Kaffee-Klexbilder, a collection of humorous images inspired by the accidental shapes of coffee stains.
Between 1852 and 1858, Muhr spent much of his winters in Italy. During this time, he produced Eine Predigt in der Sixtinischen Kapelle, featuring models who were high-ranking clergy members. Following his time in Berlin, Muhr moved to Munich in 1859, where he converted to Christianity. His later career focused on genre painting, history painting, and portraiture. He was married to Mathilde von Colomb, and the family is buried in the Old Southern Cemetery in Munich.
Selected Works and Portraits
Muhr's body of work includes various historical and genre subjects, such as:
As a portraitist, Muhr captured several notable figures, including:
