Albert von Keller (1844 –1920), Swiss Artist ~ Blog of an Art Admirer

Friday

Albert von Keller (1844 –1920), Swiss Artist

Camilla Eibenschütz Myrrhine in Lysistrata, 1909

Gisela von Wehner in grosser Toilette, 1906

Albert Keller was born in Switzerland. His mother was from an old family, she left Zurich for Bavaria shortly after the birth of her illegitimate son and acquired German citizenship in 1852 and moved to Munich.
Young Albert Keller abandoned his law studies and devoted himself to his passion - painting.
In 1871, he acquired an apartment in Maximilianstrasse and occupied it until his death. His two paintings represent lunch and dinner in its interior, showing his wife and friends.
The recognition of his talent came in 1873 with the work entitled "Chopin".
The frequented the circles of influence and in 1878 married the beautiful and wealthy Irene von Lenbach (1858-1907) whose father was the founder of the Bavarian Mortgage and Exchange Bank. Keller lived at one of Munich's best addresses and was a welcome guest in the most rarefied social circles.
Keller mostly painted interiors and society life, portraits of actresses and dancers and nudes. Keller’s oeuvre which comes to more than 1000 works, represents Jugendstil in its most perfect form and constitutes a detailed account of Wilhelmian and Belle Époque society.
His works were a huge success on the first international exposition of the Secessionin 1893 in Munich and earned him his title of nobility which was handed out in 1897 by the Prince Regent Leopold.