Figure 1.--This is Albert Anker's portrait of his son Maurice. He looks to be about 8-9 years old. In other pintings, Albert and his siublings were included in genre scenes. Here Maurice is off to school with his slate. Notice the cap. We are not sure whast caos like this were called. It my have been a destinctive Swiss style.

Albert Anker is a beloved Swiss artist. He was interested in drawing and art from boyhood. He was greatly influenced by the exhibitions of the Soci?t? des Amis des Arts in Neuchâtel (1842). Louis Wallinger (1819-86) gave him private drawing lessons (1845-48). He did not, however, study in art schools. He pursued theology, largely at the direction of his father. He began his studies in Berne planning to become a clergymen (1851). He continued to pursue theology at the university in Halle, Germany. It was common at the time for Germasn speakers to study in other German speaking countries. While in Germany, Anker visited many art museums, exposing him to major art masters. He visited the Gem?ldegalerie in Dresden, which had a particularly important collection. His father finally gave upnhis plans for the ministry and allowed Anker to pursue art. Anker moved to Paris (1854). He worked in the studio of Charles Gleyre. He began his studies at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris (1855). He began selling portraits. Like many artiosts ast the time, he next went to nothern Italy (1861). He studies the works of the great Renaissance masters by copying their work. Anker was contemporary with the French Impressionists. He was, however, a traditional painter who painted realistic genre works. He gained much respect for his pictures of rural Swiss life. He provides a masterful view of Swiss life in the second half of the 19th century. He both painted and drew illustrations. He is paricularly noted for his images of children. Like the Impressionists, and probably many other artists, he used his family and friends as models. As a result of his wonderful genre paintings of Swiss villasge life, he is sometimes referred to as the national painter of Switzerland.

Parents

Albert's father, Samuel Anker, was a veterinarian. He was a pillar of the local community, a member of the Constituent Assembly in the Canton of Berne.

Boyhood

Albert was born in Ins (1831). As the son of a veterinarian he would have been exposed to local farmers and thus village life. He was interested in drawing and art from boyhood. He was greatly influenced by the exhibitions of the Soci?t? des Amis des Arts in Neuchâtel (1842).

Education

Albert attended primary school in Neuchâtel. Louis Wallinger (1819-86) gave him and a friend, Auguste Bachelin, private drawing lessons (1845-48). He entered the Gymnasium Kirchenfeld in Berne (1849). He graduated with the Matura degree (1851). He did not, however, study in art in school as a boy . He pursued theology, largely at the behest of his father. He began his teological studies in Berne planning to become a clergymen (1851). He continued to pursue theology at the university in Halle, Germany. It was common at the time for Germasn speakers to study in other German speaking countries. While in Germany, Anker visited many art museums, exposing him to major art masters. He visited the Gem?ldegalerie in Dresden, which had a particularly important collection. Exposure to this great art caused him to plead with his father to allow him to change his career goals. His father finally gave up his plans for the ministry and allowed Anker to pursue art. Anker moved to Paris (1854). He worked in the studio of Charles Gleyre. He began his studies at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris (1855). He began selling portraits. Like many artiosts ast the time, he next went to nothern Italy (1861). He studies the works of the great Renaissance masters by copying their work.

Career

Anker returned from Paris and set up a studio in his parent's attic. At the time, artists painted indoors in studios. Painting outdoors was an innovastion introduced by impressionists. He began entering his works in exhibitions throughout Switzerland as well as Paris. He soon began winning awards. He won a gold medal at the Paris Salon for 'Schlafendes Mädchen im Walde' (1865) and 'Schreibunterricht' (1865) (1866). He became a member of of the Grand Council of Bern (1870-74). He strongly promoted the construction of the Kunstmuseum Bern. He was made a knight of the Légion d'honneur (1878).

Body of Work

Albert Anker is perhaps the most beloved of all Swiss artists. Anker was contemporary with the French Impressionists. He was, however, a traditional painter who painted realistic genre works. At an early point, he painted som biblical and other relious scenrs. His focus throughout his career, however, was genre scenes of Swiss village life. He gained much respect for his pictures of rural Swiss life. He provides a masterful view of Swiss life in the second half of the 19th century. He both painted and drew illustrations. He is paricularly noted for his images of children. As a result of his wonderful genre paintings of Swiss village life, he is sometines referred to as the national painter of Switzerland.

Family

Like the Impressionists, and probably many other artists, he used his family and friends as models. Anker married Anna Rüfli (1864). They had six children. Two of the children died in infancy. Four children survived: Louise, Marie, Maurice and Cécile. Anker used them as models in his painting.

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Created: 8:06 PM 5/26/2010
Last updated: 8:06 PM 5/26/2010