The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Schirmer, Johann Wilhelm

SCHIRMER, shĭr'mĕr, Johann Wilhelm, German artist: b. Jülich, Rhenish Prussia, 5 Sept. 1807; d. Carlsruhe, 11 Sept. 1863. He studied historical painting under Schadow at the Düsseldorf Academy until he came under the influence of Lessing's landscapes, whereupon he turned to that métier, producing historical landscapes after the manner of Poussin. In 1830 he became assistant professor, and in 1839 professor at the Düsseldorf Academy, meantime visiting and painting in Belgium, the Black Forest, Switzerland, Holland, Normandy and Italy. In 1853 he became director of the art school at Carlsruhe. Among his works are six Biblical landscapes, with the ‘Life of Abraham,’ National Gallery, Berlin; ‘Grotto of Egeria,’ ‘Nether German Landscape,’ Leipzig Museum; series of 26 Biblical landscapes, Düsseldorf Gallery; ‘Via Mala,’ four landscapes with story of Good Samaritan; ‘Storm on the Campagna,’ Carlsruhe Gallery.