Who painted Flamand Mayor (Baron Pfuel?)?

Flamand Mayor (Baron Pfuel?) was painted by Friedrich von Amerling in 1836.

Where can I see Flamand Mayor (Baron Pfuel?)?

Flamand Mayor (Baron Pfuel?) is held by Kunsthistorisches Museum.

What movement is Flamand Mayor (Baron Pfuel?)?

Flamand Mayor (Baron Pfuel?) is associated with Biedermeier.

Can I buy a print of Flamand Mayor (Baron Pfuel?)?

Museum-quality prints of Flamand Mayor (Baron Pfuel?) are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Flamand Mayor (Baron Pfuel?)

Friedrich von Amerling , 1836

Flamand Mayor (Baron Pfuel?) is an oil painting by the Biedermeier artist Friedrich von Amerling. It dates from 1836 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.

About this work

Overview

Friedrich von Amerling painted the portrait known as *Flamand Mayor (Baron Pfuel?)* in 1836. Executed in oil, the work exemplifies the Biedermeier aesthetic that favored precise, realistic renderings of contemporary figures. It is part of the permanent collection of Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter is a formally dressed gentleman, clad in a black coat with a white lace‑collared shirt, a gold chain, and a red feathered hat held in his left hand. His composed pose, with the right hand in a pocket, conveys the dignity and status typical of a civic leader or minor aristocrat of the period.

Technique & Style

Amerling’s handling of oil paint displays meticulous attention to texture and fabric, from the sheen of the gold chain to the intricate lace trim. The subtle modelling of light on the face and clothing reflects the Biedermeier focus on intimate, lifelike portraiture, while the restrained palette underscores the sitter’s solemnity.

History & Provenance

Created early in Amerling’s Viennese career, the portrait entered the Kunsthistorisches Museum’s holdings, where it remains on display. Its attribution to Amerling aligns with his reputation as a leading portraitist for the Austrian court and bourgeois clientele during the mid‑19th century.

Context

The painting belongs to a period when Biedermeier art catered to a rising middle class and minor nobility, emphasizing personal achievement and domestic respectability. Amerling, alongside contemporaries such as Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller, helped define this visual language in Austrian art.