Johann Wilhelm Meil

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Johann Wilhelm Meil (born October 23, 1733 in Altenburg , † February 2, 1805 in Berlin ) was a German painter, engraver, draftsman, etcher and book illustrator. He was the son of the court sculptor Johann Christoph Meil (1698–1734) and the younger brother of the draftsman and engraver Johann Heinrich Meil (1729–1803).

Johann Wilhelm Meil ​​learned the painting trade autodidactically in Leipzig, possibly with the help of his older brother Johann Heinrich.

In 1752 he came to Berlin and worked as an artist. In 1766 he became a member of the Prussian Academy of the Arts , in 1783 rector of the drawing class, in 1797 or 1798 vice director and in 1801 its director as successor to Daniel Chodowiecki . In addition to his educational work, he was active as a freelance artist. In the period from 1752 to 1755 he created around 80 etchings based on designs by Johann Michael Hoppenhaupt , including for the new palace in Sanssouci . He also designed twelve vases on the terrace in front of the castle's picture gallery.

He created costumes for the Berlin court theater as well as designs for the Royal Prussian Porcelain Manufactory . Among other things, Meil ​​illustrated Johann Jakob Engels "Ideas for a Mimik" (1785/86), writings of Friedrich the Great , Ewald Christian von Kleist , Karl Wilhelm Ramler , but above all Johann Matthias Schröckh's "General World History for Children" (1781–1786) . In 1792 he designed the monument to Frederick the Great for the palace gardens of Schloss Neuhardenberg , which the sculptor Giuseppe Martini realized based on his designs.

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personal data
SURNAME Meil, Johann Wilhelm
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German painter, engraver, draftsman, etcher and book illustrator
DATE OF BIRTH October 23, 1733
PLACE OF BIRTH Altenburg
DATE OF DEATH February 2, 1805
Place of death Berlin