Life
Ernst Rietschel (December 15, 1804 - January 21, 1861, full name Ernst Friedrich August Rietschel) was one of the most important German sculptors of the late Classicism. The sculptures he created, such as the Goethe-Schiller Monument in Weimar, or the Lessing monument in Braunschweig, have played a crucial role in establishing Germany’s image as a land of poets and thinkers.
Ernst Rietschel was born in Pulsnitz, Saxony, as the third child of Friedrich Ehregott Rietschel and his wife, Caroline. After his first years of drawing lessons and a discontinued commercial apprenticeship in his hometown, Rietschel began his studies at the Royal Saxon Acadamy of Fine Arts in Dresden in 1820. Over the next few years, he experienced his first successes, including, among other things, studying under the guidance of Franz Pettrich and winning various awards for his drawings.
In 1826 Rietschel moved to Berlin and became a pupil of Christian Daniel Rauch. In 1828, he was appointed to be the studio’s representative and attended the groudbreaking ceremony of the Dürer statue in Neremberg. During his return journey, he visited Goethe in Weimar. He followed up with a second visit in 1829 along with Rauch.
In 1832 he married Albertine Trautscholdt, with whom he was engaged for a year. In the same year, not even 28 years old, he was appointed as professor of sculpture at the Dresden Art Academy. In 1833, his first daughter, Adelaide, was born. His second daughter, Johanna, died after only three weeks in April 1835. In July of the same year, his wife, Albertine, also died. Nevertheless, his creativity remained unabated.
In collaboration with several leading architects, including Gottfried Semper, among others, Rietschel was responsible for the sculptural decoration of many buildings, especially in Dresden. In the beginning of 1836, he was appointed as a full member of the Berlin Academy of the Arts, and weeks later, as well as an honorary member of the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna.
In the following years, he received many important commissions, some of which he worked on for years.
Due to the immaculate design of his works, such as the Lessing Monument in Braunschweig (1854), among many others, Rietschel was known, even beyond the borders of Germany, as the most important monument artist of his time.
In November 1836, he married his second wife (the daughter of Carl Gustav Carus), Charlotte Carus. On August 28, 1837, Charlotte gave birth to Rietschel's first son, Wolfgang. In May 1838, yet another tradgedy struck Rietschel; his second wife died. As he did with his first wife, Albertine, he created a portrait bust in memory of Charlotte.
On May 2, 1841, he married yet again; this time, to Marie Hand. A year later on May 10th, his second son, Christain Georg, was born, followed by another daughter, Margarethe Charlotte, in 1845. Margarethe didn't make it past a year old before dying. In 1847, another son, Hermann Immanuel, was born. After six years of marriage, Marie died a few months after giving birth to yet another son, Hermann, on July 18, 1847.
On April 30, 1851, Rietschel married, for a final time. His fourth wife, Friederike Oppermann, outlived him by almost 40 years. In the winter months of 1851/1852 Rietschel traveled to Italy and Sicily in an attempt to cure a lung ailment. On July 4, 1853, Friederike gave birth to another daughter, Gertrud Charlotte Marie.
In 1855, Rietschel displayed his statue of Lessing in the Parisian Art Exhibition. In the same year, he was awarded the Grand Medal of Honor and was appointed as a knight of the French Legion of Honor. In 1856, he was also named as an honorary member of the Stockholm Academy.
Once again, in 1857, Rietschel visted his master, Christian Daniel Rauch, in Berlin. In the same year, on September 4, his Goethe and Schiller monument was unveiled in Weimar.
Between the years of 1858 and 1859, Rietschel was commissioned for the Reformation Monument in Worms. He was made an honorary member of several other academies and instituions, including those in Paris, Brussels, Copenhagen, Rome, and Antwerp. On May 31, 1858, he was also registered in the Prussian Order Pour le Merite for Arts and Science. Three days later, he was buried in the Trinity Cemetery (Trinitatisfriedhof) in Dresden.
For further information, we invite you to visit the Ernst Rietschel Kulturring Website.
In 1826 Rietschel moved to Berlin and became a pupil of Christian Daniel Rauch. In 1828, he was appointed to be the studio’s representative and attended the groudbreaking ceremony of the Dürer statue in Neremberg. During his return journey, he visited Goethe in Weimar. He followed up with a second visit in 1829 along with Rauch.
In 1832 he married Albertine Trautscholdt, with whom he was engaged for a year. In the same year, not even 28 years old, he was appointed as professor of sculpture at the Dresden Art Academy. In 1833, his first daughter, Adelaide, was born. His second daughter, Johanna, died after only three weeks in April 1835. In July of the same year, his wife, Albertine, also died. Nevertheless, his creativity remained unabated.
In collaboration with several leading architects, including Gottfried Semper, among others, Rietschel was responsible for the sculptural decoration of many buildings, especially in Dresden. In the beginning of 1836, he was appointed as a full member of the Berlin Academy of the Arts, and weeks later, as well as an honorary member of the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna.
In the following years, he received many important commissions, some of which he worked on for years.
Due to the immaculate design of his works, such as the Lessing Monument in Braunschweig (1854), among many others, Rietschel was known, even beyond the borders of Germany, as the most important monument artist of his time.
In November 1836, he married his second wife (the daughter of Carl Gustav Carus), Charlotte Carus. On August 28, 1837, Charlotte gave birth to Rietschel's first son, Wolfgang. In May 1838, yet another tradgedy struck Rietschel; his second wife died. As he did with his first wife, Albertine, he created a portrait bust in memory of Charlotte.
On May 2, 1841, he married yet again; this time, to Marie Hand. A year later on May 10th, his second son, Christain Georg, was born, followed by another daughter, Margarethe Charlotte, in 1845. Margarethe didn't make it past a year old before dying. In 1847, another son, Hermann Immanuel, was born. After six years of marriage, Marie died a few months after giving birth to yet another son, Hermann, on July 18, 1847.
On April 30, 1851, Rietschel married, for a final time. His fourth wife, Friederike Oppermann, outlived him by almost 40 years. In the winter months of 1851/1852 Rietschel traveled to Italy and Sicily in an attempt to cure a lung ailment. On July 4, 1853, Friederike gave birth to another daughter, Gertrud Charlotte Marie.
In 1855, Rietschel displayed his statue of Lessing in the Parisian Art Exhibition. In the same year, he was awarded the Grand Medal of Honor and was appointed as a knight of the French Legion of Honor. In 1856, he was also named as an honorary member of the Stockholm Academy.
Once again, in 1857, Rietschel visted his master, Christian Daniel Rauch, in Berlin. In the same year, on September 4, his Goethe and Schiller monument was unveiled in Weimar.
Between the years of 1858 and 1859, Rietschel was commissioned for the Reformation Monument in Worms. He was made an honorary member of several other academies and instituions, including those in Paris, Brussels, Copenhagen, Rome, and Antwerp. On May 31, 1858, he was also registered in the Prussian Order Pour le Merite for Arts and Science. Three days later, he was buried in the Trinity Cemetery (Trinitatisfriedhof) in Dresden.
For further information, we invite you to visit the Ernst Rietschel Kulturring Website.