Emanuel Salomon Friedberg-Mírohorský

Emanuel Salomon Friedberg-Mírohorský (18 January 1829, Prague – 10 December 1908, Prague) was a Czech painter, illustrator, translator, author and officer in the Austrian Army. He was also an advocate of vegetarianism and abstinence. "Mírohorský" was an artistic pseudonym that means the same thing as "Friedberg" (peaceful mountain) in Czech.

He was born to a well-known family that included several generals of the Austrian Army. His mother died shortly after his birth and he was raised largely by his uncle, Moric Fialka, an army officer and journalist. In 1837, he began taking drawing lessons at the local grammar school that were organized by František Tkadlík and Antonín Mánes from the Academy of Fine Arts. This made him want to be a painter, but his uncle, who occasionally taught at the Theresian Military Academy, insisted he attend that school and become an officer.

He completed his studies in 1846 and returned to Prague where he joined the 28th Infantry Regiment. In 1848, when the Revolutions began, his Regiment fought under the command of Field Marshal Radetzky at the Battle of Custova. He was injured during an engagement near Voltri and was taken back to Prague after a stay in Milan. He returned to duty and was one of the first to be given the Military Merit Cross, for his actions at the Battle of Kápolna.

Over the next few years, he advanced rapidly and married a Colonel's daughter in 1860. He headed the negotiations with the Italian General, Enrico Cialdini, whose troops had illegally crossed the border in 1866. After that, he was transferred to General Headquarters in Zadar. In 1873, he was promoted to Major-General and, in 1878, to Field Marshal. During this time, he painted whenever possible.

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