GAERTNER, or GARTNER, ritlEmuctr VON, architect, was born at Coblens in 1792, and was the son of Johann Andreas Gaertner. Brought to Munich at an early age, he received a general acientiflo educatioo, see in 1809 entered the Academy of Arta in order to devote himself specially to architecture. After three years he went to Paris, to enter the Academy there; and here ho enlarged his knowledge under the guidance of Percier. France had been during many years regarded as the school of Germany in art—for German art was then only about to reassert independent character, such as under Gartner and other artists it soon acquired. In 1814 Gartner wept to 'tale, where be remained four years. He visited Rome, Naples, and other places of general interest, but would appear to have devoted himself to the antique monuments as lunch as to later works, although it is the character of the Byzantine and early Italian styles to which the designs in Lis own buildings are nearest allied. Ile especially studied the ruins in Sicily, including those at Girgenti, Segesta, and Teoromina, whish he drew and published in lithography, in 1819, in a work enti tled ' Views of tba best preserved Greek Monuments of Sicily, with Explanatory Text.' In 1819 also be came to England, and was induced to think of residing here; but in 1820, being made professor of archi tecture in the Munich Academy, be was from that time engaged in Bavaria. Well qualified by his studies and taste to co-operate in the grand revival fostered by the Crown Prince (afterwards Louis of Bavaria), Gartner became connected with several important branches of manufectore. The superiority in forms and character attained in the works of the porcelain factory, of which he became director in 1822, was due to him, as also in great part was the revival of glass-painting. In 1829 the sphere of his influence was enlarged. King Louis, appreciating his talent, instructed him to design the Lndwigs-Kirche, which eventually was magnificently decorated inter nally with the aid of the painter Cornelius. Near the church is the great library and record-office, by the same architect. In 1833 ho
commenced the Blinden-Institut. Amongst his other buildings about the same time, or subsequently, were the University, the Erziehunga Inetitot, the Damenetift, the Priester-Seminar, the Salzamt, the Lud wigs-thor, and the Feldhertmehalle, all at Munich. Besides these he built the palace at Wittelsbach, the pump-room at Kissingen, and the Befreiungshalle at Kelheim—a great monument in the form of a rotunda, designed to commemorate the liberation of Germany.
In 1836 Gartner accompanied the king to Athens to study the Greek monuments, and there he was directed to design a new Residenz, or palace, for King Otho. At Athens he re-opened the quarries of Pentelic marble, said to have been forgotten atuco the time of Hadrian. On his return, ho was appointed oberbaurath, or architect to the court, and received the order of Civil Merit of the Crown of Bavaria; and on the departure of Cornelius for Berlin in 1841, be was made Director of the Academy of Arta. In addition to the works above mentioned, Gertner was architect of the l'ornpeian House at Aschsfrenburg—one of those efforts to collect a series of examples of styles, through which, in consequence of that aim, the value of King Louis's still great services to art is reduced. Gartner also restored the Iesr-thor, aud portions of the cathedrals at Regeusburg and Bamberg. Ile died ou the 21st of April 1847, aged fifty-five years.
Gartner'. style, as described by liaczynski Histoire de ]'Art Moderne en Allemagne e, is one which "recalls" the idea of the Byzantine; which, as a general statement, is correct. The University and the Bibliothek have however a marked Florentine character. The architect constantly uses the areh-beaded window, divided into two lights by a centre-column, and avoids the characteristics of the late Italian styles,—whilst ornament of original character is freely Introduced. Much of the fame of Munich for interior decoration in buildings, and the Influence of which has spread even to this country, Is duo to Gartner. A publication of his designs was commenced about 1844 or 1846.