Josef Bergler (1753–1829)

• Was an Austrian painter and etcher.
• He was director of the Prague Academy.

• Bergler was born in Salzburg, the son of sculptor Joseph Bergler the Elder who instructed his son.

• He moved to Italy in 1776 and studied under Martin Knoller in Milan and Anton von Maron in Rome.

• He also became acquainted with Maron's brother-in-law, Anton Raphael Mengs, as well as Gavin Hamilton and Giovanni Volpato.

• In 1786, he returned to live with his parents in Passau.

• In 1800, he moved to Prague in Bohemia, where he helped to found the Academy of Fine Arts at the Clementinum, and became its first director.

• Bergler taught Antonín Machek lithography and other graphic techniques.

• Friedrich von Amerling was also a student.

• He was patronized by Count Thun and became chamber painter to Cardinal Auersperg, prince bishop of Passau.

• Bergler created altar-pieces for a number of churches in Prague and the vicinity.

• In 1774, he created works for the side altars in the "Mariahilf" pilgrim church in Passau.

• He died in Prague on 25 June 1829, aged 76.

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