Peter von Cornelis - Joseph Reveals Himself to His Brothers [c.1816-17]

Peter von Cornelis - Joseph Reveals Himself to His Brothers [c.1816-17], a photo by Gandalf's Gallery on Flickr.

Peter von Cornelis was a German painter. Cornelius, as an oil painter, possessed little technical skill, nor do his works exhibit any instinctive appreciation of colour. Even as a fresco painter his manipulative power was not great. And in critically examining the execution in colour of some of his magnificent designs, one cannot help feeling that he was, in this respect, unable to do them full justice.

To comprehend and appreciate thoroughly the magnitude of the work which Cornelius accomplished for Germany, we must remember that at the beginning of the 19th century Germany had no national school of art. Germany was in painting and sculpture behind all the rest of Europe. Yet in less than half a century Cornelius founded a great school, revived mural painting, and turned the gaze of the art world towards Munich. 

[Fresco, 236 x 290 cm]