Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Lang, Louis

LANG, Louis, artist, b. in Waldsee, Würtemberg, 29 Feb., 1812. His father, a historical painter, wished him to become a musician, but his taste was for art. At the age of sixteen he executed pastels with success. He studied at Stuttgart and Paris, and settled in the United States in 1838, his studio being for several years in Philadelphia. He spent the years 1841-'5 in Italy, and came to New York in the latter year, where he now (1887) resides, with frequent visits to Europe. He was elected a National academician in 1852, and is a member of the Artists' fund society. Lang's style is characterized by brilliant but well-balanced coloring; his choice of subjects is sentimental and popular. Among his best-known works are “Maid of Saragossa,” “Mary Stuart distributing Gifts,” “Blind Nydia,” “Jephtha's Daughter,” “Neapolitan Fisher Family,” “Little Graziosa among the Butterflies” (1871); “Landing of the Market-Boat at Capri” (1876); and “Romeo and Juliet,” which is in the Century club, New York. His most recent work at the National academy is “Portrait of a Little Child” (1885).