Karl Wilhelm Wach

Karl Wilhelm Wach
Drawing by Carl Christian Vogel von Vogelstein.

Karl Wilhelm Wach (also Carl Wilhelm or Wilhelm Wach) (September 11, 1787 - November 24, 1845) was a German painter.

Wach was born in Berlin in 1787, studied art at the Prussian Academy of Arts and was a pupil of painter Karl Kretschmar. At the age of just 20, Wach was commissioned to paint an altar piece for the Paretz village church and produced his "Christ with four Apostles" (1807).

Five years later came his artistic breakthrough, his painting of Königin Luise (1812). After spending 1813 to 1815 in the Prussian army, Wach then established himself in Paris. He met William Hensel and the two became pupils of the painters Antoine Jean Gros and Jacques-Louis David. In 1817 Wach undertook a longer study trip to Italy, above all to study artists from Quattrocento. His strongest influence - according to his own statements - was however Raphael. Two years later Wach returned to Berlin (1819) and set himself up himself as a freelance artist. His first large commission was a picture for Berlin Concert Hall. Wach created for it a cover painting of the nine Muses. Prussian king Frederick William III made available to Wach premises in which he then furnished a studio. Due to its influence and its many pupils, this studio soon became a school. By 1837 it had nearly 70 pupils, almost all of whom went on to forge artistic careers. His activity as a teacher did not noticeably impair his artistic work. Wach was honoured with the title professor and appointed a member of Prussian Academy of Arts (1820). To mark his 40th birthday Wach was officially promoted to royal painter (1827).

Wach died in 1845.

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