Honisch, Dieter. Anton Raphael Mengs und die Bildform des Frühklassizismus. Recklinghausen: A. Bongers, 1965 (in German)
Anton Raphael Mengs
Born: Usti nad Labem, Bohemia (Czech Republic), 12 March 1728
Died: Rome, 29 June 1779
Nationality: German
Died: Rome, 29 June 1779
Nationality: German
Background:
son of painter
Studies:
with father, painter Ismael Mengs; with Marco Benefial (1742-44, Rome)
Career:
1744 – moves to Dresden as portrait painter
1748 – converts to Roman Catholicism
1751 – appointed Court Painter in Dresden (fired in 1756). Leaves Dresden permanently
1752 – becomes member of Academy of St Luke, Rome based on acceptance of St Mary Magdalene (1752, Gemäldegalerie Neue Meister, Dresden)
1755 – meets Johann Joachim Winckelmann
1761-79 – court painter to Charles III (formerly King of Naples) in Madrid
Travels
Italy (mostly Rome) (1740-44, 1746-49, 1751-61)
Commissions from:
Saxon court (Dresden); Cardinal Alessandro Albani; Charles III (King of Spain)
Important Artworks:
Self-Portrait, 1744 (Gemäldegalerie Neue Meister, Dresden)
Electress Maria Antonia of Bavaria, c. 1750 (Gemäldegalerie Neue Meister, Dresden)
Johann Joachim Winckelmann, c. 1777(Metropolitan Museum of Art)
Triumph of Aurora, 1762-64 (Palacio Real, Madrid)
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