Hans Makart

Hans Makart (28 May 1840 – 3 October 1884) was an Austrian academic history painter, designer and decorator. Makart was a prolific painter whose ideas significantly influenced the development of visual art in Austria-Hungary, Germany, and other countries.

Makart was the son of a chamberlain at the Mirabell Palace, born in the former residence of the prince-archbishops of Salzburg, the city in which Mozart had been born. He was initially trained in painting by Johann Fischbach at the Vienna Academy between 1850 and 1851. During Makart's training at the Academy, German art was governed by classicism, which was entirely intellectual and academic: clear and precise drawing, sculpturesque modelling, and pictorial erudition were esteemed above all.

Makart, who was a poor draughtsman but had a passionate and sensual love of colour, was impatient to escape from the routine of art school drawing. Fortunately for him, he was adjudged by his instructors to be devoid of all talent and was forced to leave the Vienna Academy.