Michael Wutky

Michael Wutky (by Christian von Mechel based on a self-portrait)

The eruption of Vesuvius seen across the Gulf of Naples , oil on canvas

Eruption of Vesuvius , oil on canvas

Michael Wutky (* 1739 in Krems an der Donau ; † September 28, 1822 in Vienna ) was an Austrian painter . His work, influenced by the late baroque , is mainly concerned with landscape painting .

Live and act

Wutky had been a member of the Imperial Art Academy in Vienna since 1770 .

Wutky achieved contemporary notoriety during his several years' stay in Naples (1772–85). Vesuvius was particularly active at that time , and Wutky took the opportunity to paint very natural and impressive pictures of the eruptions and the subsequent lava flows. Accompanied by the English natural scientist William Hamilton , he even risked excursions as close as possible to the crater during the eruptions. For a long time, the studies he carried out on site were considered to be the most precise scientific representations of volcanism .

literature

• Constantin von Wurzbach : Wutky, Michael . In: Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Oesterreich . 59th part. Kaiserlich-Königliche Hof- und Staatsdruckerei, Vienna 1890, pp. 33–35 ( digitized version ).
• Hermann Arthur Lier:  Wuttky, Michael . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 44, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1898, p. 379.
• Hans Frühwirth: Your love was for Krems. Cultural Office of the City of Krems, Krems 1997, ISBN 3-901664-01-9

Web links

Commons : Michael Wutky  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• Entry on Michael Wutky in the database of the state's memory for the history of the state of Lower Austria ( Museum Niederösterreich ) (with incorrect life dates)