Georg Friedrich Schmidt is a copper engraver. He is known as the finest engraver of the eighteenth century, the largest in Germany. He was a teacher of Russian masters, founded an engraving class at the Academy of Arts, becoming his first teacher.
Arriving in St. Petersburg in 1757, Schmidt was appointed master of portraits at the Academy of Arts. He taught in the rank of chief engraver. In 1976 Georg Friedrich Schmidt was elected a member of the Academy of Arts.
Time to improve talent
One of the most outstanding masters of engraving was born into a modest family of weavers in 1912. Against the will of his parent, Georg became a student at the Berlin Academy. He became an apprentice to George Paul Busch. From him, Schmidt learned the subtleties and techniques of craftsmanship.
A period of stagnation began in the Russian art school. Therefore, for a novice creator, his own knowledge with copying engravings is much more than an academic education.
Training soon had to be suspended due to conscription. For six years, Schmidt served her, continuing to improve his skills every free moment. He was engaged in drawing, copied prints by French masters. Then he decided to go to Paris to become a real engraver.
In 1936 Schmidt received an order for a series of illustrations for books. This provided the future famous master with the necessary funds. In Strasbourg, a meeting took place in Ville, an artist who was traveling to Paris to continue his education. The friendship that began on the way lasted all my life.
At first, the friends had a hard time. After the presentation of letters of recommendation from Antoine Pen, a Berlin painter, to Nicolas Lancre, the demonstration of his own prints allowed him to gain the favor of the master. With Lancre's help, Schmidt got into the workshop of the famous engraver Larmessen. The diligence and talent of the beginner very soon pushed the student to the front ranks. He got the chance to work with a teacher on prints from Lancre's originals.
The works were met with approval by the famous painter Hyacinth Rigaud. He helped Schmidt get commissions for the portrait of the Comte d'Evrieux and the Archbishop of Cabray. The creations made the master famous. For the portrait of the artist Mignard Schmidt was elected to the Royal Academy.
Petersburg period
Despite the secure future of the capital, Georg Friedrich returned to Berlin in 1744 at the invitation of King Frederick II. He became an engraver at court and began teaching at the Academy. The master began a return to the artistic traditions of Germany. In Berlin, he turned into a master of the highest level, educated many students, and gained independence. Ville spent all his life in Paris, became a true follower of the French engraving school.
Schmidt's works in Paris remain the most technically advanced. However, the most brilliant and effective critics consider his Berlin creations. The artist follows the technique of incisive engraving when creating portraits.
He chooses a strict linear style, conveying the stylistics of forms, depth of shadows, textured variety by the variability of the thickness of the incisal lines. He sought a lot of freedom and variety of tones. For all the splendor of the engraving technique, there is some weakness in the drawing. This is especially noticeable in etchings based on the compositions of the master himself.
Life in the capital was going well. The artist managed to happily establish his personal life, start a family. Dorothea Louise Wiesbaden, daughter of a merchant, became his wife. Georg left Berlin again. The master was recommended by Louis Tocque, a French portraitist at the Russian court.
He described Schmit as an accomplished master and master of engraving. The highly respected painter managed to convince the art department of Russia of the need to invite Schmidt to teach.
The decision was made promptly. Yakov Shtelin, who headed the Department of Arts, a few months later wrote to Georg Friedrich about inviting him for five years as the first engraver. Along with teaching, he was appointed the creator of portraits commissioned by the Academy's office.
Summarizing
In 1957 the master went to St. Petersburg. Among his students were Alexey Grekov, Ekim and Philip Vnukovs, Efim Vinogradov, Nikita Plotsev, Nikolai Sablin, Patrikey Balabin and Prokofy Artemiev.
In 1959 an engraving class was opened. The German Georg Friedrich began teaching in it with the rank of chief engraver. The students did not make the teacher happy. Only one Cheremesov stood out with particular success. Schmidt, who had already left for his homeland, reproached Shtelin for the lack of due zeal, replied that with due diligence all his followers could reach the same heights as Cheremesov.
The Petersburg period had a beneficial effect on the Russian engraving school. Many of Schmidt's students reached considerable heights in art. The Academy of Arts in the fall of 1765 elected the already departed artist on a par with Lomonosov as an honorary member.
During his five years in St. Petersburg, Schmidt created portraits of Razumovsky, Vorontsov, Estergazi, Shuvalov. Work on the portrait of Empress Elizabeth, based on the original by Tocca, was delayed. The order was received immediately upon arrival, but the creation lasted for three years. The porter was completed a couple of weeks before Elizabeth passed away. She could only barely look at the fruits of the work of several years.
In St. Petersburg, the master also created his own self-portrait in 1758. The students remembered him exactly as in this work. Serious kind face, passion, eyes filled with fire. He knew how to speak convincingly, was always well-disposed and looked solid. The engraver passed away in 1775.
