Joseph Abel (1764–1818)

• Was an Austrian historical painter and etcher.
• Abel was born in Aschach an der Donau, Upper Austria.
• He visited the Academy in Vienna, which was at the time directed by Friedrich Heinrich Füger.
• Abel developed an interest for the ancient world, reflecting a popular direction in the art of the beginning of the 19th century in Germany and France.
• During the years 1801–1807, he studied in Italy, then returned to Vienna, where he became a member of the Academy on 8 February 1815 and remained till his death in 1818.
• Among his famous works are paintings and etchings of Klopstock in Elysium, Orestes and Electra, Socrates and Theramenes as well as Emperor Francis I of Austria.
• He also painted the figural part of the front curtain of the old Burgtheater under directions of Füger.
• The displayed painting is a crop from: Josef Abel, Self-Portrait in the Studio, between circa 1808 and circa 1810.
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