Klinger, Max |
| PAINTER, GRAPHICAL ARTIST, SCULPTOR (GERMANY) |
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BORN 18 Feb 1857, Leipzig, Sachsen - DIED 5 Jul 1920, Naumburg, Sachsen-Anhalt: Grossjena GRAVE LOCATION Naumburg, Sachsen-Anhalt: Garten der Klinger-Gedächtnisstätte, Grossjena |
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Max Klinger was the second son of Heinrich Louis Klinger, a silk merchant. After Anton von Weber turned him down as a pupil he went to Karlsruhe, where he studied under Karl Gussow at the Großherzoglich Badischen Kunstschule. He followed Gussow to Berlin, after the latter was employed there by Von Weber. Klinger first exhibited paintings in 1878 in Berlin. In 1879 he moved to Brussel where he was a pupil to Emile Charles Wauters. In 1881 he set up a studio in Berlin, but in 1883 he moved to Paris. In 1887 he met Arnold Böcklin in Berlin and later that year he went back to Leipzig. He went to Rome, Brussels, Munich and other places before he settled in Leipzig in 1893. He became a member of the Academy of Art in Berlin in 1894. In 1897 he was appointed professor at the Academy of Graphical Art in Leipzig. In 1898 he met Elsa Asenijeff, who became his model as well as his companion. Klinger was always an extensive traveller and his daughter Desirée was born in Paris on September 7th, 1900. In 1902 he finished his famous Beethoven sculpture (Museum der bildende Künste, Leipzig). In 1903 he bought a house on a wine hill at Grossjena near Naumburg. During the summers he spent there he lived in one part of the house and Elsa in another. In 1911 Gertrud Bock (1893-1932) became his model, and after his relationship with Elsa ended in 1916 she became his companion. In 1919 he married Gertrud and made her his sole heir, although he settled an amount of money on his daughter Desirée. In 1920 Klinger decided to live at Grossjena permanently, but he was already seriously ill and died a few months later. He was buried in the garden of his house. His friend Johannes Hartmann created the grave monument. Gertrud married Hartmann in 1922. Klinger is best remembered for his etchings and his work has been regarded as a linking pin between symbolism and surrealism. Related persons • knew Böcklin, Arnold • was a friend of Greiner, Otto • knew Müller, Richard • was a friend of Schneider, Sascha |
| Images | ||
 Socle by Max Klinger for a Wagner statue that was never realised. It was placed at the Klingerhain in Leipzig. Picture by Androom (10 Feb 2005) |
 The grave of Max Klinger in the garden of the Klinger-Gedächtnisstätte, Grossjena. Picture by Androom (28 Aug 2007) |
 The grave of Max Klinger in the garden of the Klinger-Gedächtnisstätte, Grossjena. Picture by Androom (28 Aug 2007) |
 Monument by Max Klinger in section 8 of the Südfriedhof in Leipzig. (1911) Picture by Androom (29 Aug 2007) |
 Socle by Max Klinger for a Wagner statue that was never realised. It was placed at the Klingerhain in Leipzig. Picture by Androom (29 Aug 2007) |
 "Die neue Salome". (1893, Leipzig: Museum der bildende Künste) |
 "Kassandra". (1895, Leipzig: Museum der bildende Künste) |
 "Beethoven". (1902, Leipzig: Museum der bildende Künste) |
 "Liegender Frauenakt", study for 'Eremit und Nacktes Weib'. (1909, München: Staatliche Grafische Sammlung) |
Sources • Max Klinger - Wikipedia (DE) |
