Franz Defregger Biography | Oil Painting Reproductions

During his early years, Franz Defregger developed a strong love of music and learned to play the flugelhorn. He soon became a member of a neighborhood band in Dölsach, playing at weddings, assemblies, and dancing balls. Franz also displayed an early ability at drawing and woodcarving, which he developed in his spare time while working on his father's farm.

After his father died, Franz Defregger at the age of twenty-three was responsible the farm. Defregger moved to Innsbruck to develop his interest in woodcarving with the sculptor Michael Stolz, at the Innsbruck Trade School. Stoltz soon recognized Franz Defregger's talent as a painter, and in 1860, he organized a meeting with history painter Karl von Piloty at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich. In 1861, Defregger passed the entrance exam and was accepted into the Academy enrolling in a painting class given by Hermann Anschutz.

In 1863, Defregger traveled to Paris and stayed two years there to improve his studies and enrolled at the École des Beaux-Arts on the recommendation of Alexander Laemlein. In 1864, exhibited in the famous Salon des Refusés. During his time in Paris, Defregger's work was influenced by his experiences in the city and through self-study at museums, art collections, and other artist studios. He returned to Munich in 1865 and again began studying with Piloty at the Academy. Between 1867 and 1870, he worked with Hans Makart in the studio of the Piloty. His paintings were popular, and he became successful as an artist. He became the professor of history painting from 1878 to 1910 at the Munich Art Academy.

Art Movement: Academic.
Artists Influencing Defregger: Hermann Anschutz, Karl von Piloty.
Painters Franz Defregger Influenced: Josef Moroder Lusenberg, Hans Perathoner, Lovis Corinth, Walter Thor, Hugo Engl.
He Traveled To France, Germany.
Artist's Biography compiled by Albert L. Mansour at The World's Artist, with text adapted from Wikipedia.