MAKART, HANS (1840-84). An Austrian painter. He was born at Salzburg, May 28, 1840. and went to Vienna in 1858 to study at the Academy. but, dissatisfied with the prevailing methods, he returned after a few months to his native city. Through the munifi cence of the Prince-Archbishop von Tarnoczy, he was enabled to study at Munich, at first under the landscape painter Schiffmann, and from 1861 to 1865 under Pilots. Ile visited London and Paris in 1863, and soon alter went to Rome with a stipend from the Austrian Government. Ilis first work to attract wide attention was the "Plague in Florence," a scene of voluptuous hor ror, the bold composition of which raised a storm of applause and adverse criticism as intense. In 1869 the Emperor Francis Joseph invited him to settle in Vienna, and caused a sumptuous studio to be fitted up for him. His "Abundantia" pic tures (1870, New Pinakothek, Munich). repre senting the "Fruits of the Earth" and the "Fruits of the Sea," displayed even greater wealth of color than his former pictures. In 1873 followed "Venice Doing Homage to Caterina Cornaro," exhibited in Philadelphia in 1876, and now in the National Gallery, Berlin. The winter of 1875-76, which he spent in Egypt. suggested his "Cleopatra" (1875, Stuttgart .Nluseurn), "An tique Hunt on the Nile," and other Egyp tian subjects. His most ambitious historical painting, "Entry of Charles V. into Antwerp" (1875-78, Hamburg Gallery). for which he made special studies on a trip to Antwerp and Spain in 1877, was awarded a medal of honor at the Paris Exposition of 1878. This work gave
rise to more discussion and moral indignation over the 'glorification of the flesh' than any of his other productions. The last of his larger compositions. "Diana's Hunting Party" (1SSO, in the Metropolitan Museum, New York). is one of his best works. remarkable for its grand landscape surroundings. His remaining paint ings include: "The Five Senses" (1879), and "Triumph of Ariadne" (Vienna Museum) : "Sum mer" (1881, Dresden Gallery), and "Spring" (1884). his last creation.
Makart was appointed professor at the Acad emy of Vienna in 1879. His health was always delicate, and. as a result of overwork, he suc cumbed to brain disease, on October 3. 1884. He was preeminently a decorative genius, a brilliant improvisor rather than a well-trained painter. a gorgeous colorist, hut weak in draughtsmanship. Ili; sole aim was the cult of sensuous beauty, but his riotous fancy lacked the sustaining power of an intellectual basis; all simplicity and re pose are lost in his striving after effectiveness. Yet with all his shortcomings, he was one of the most imaginative artists of modern times. He was the first to bring hack the German school to the study and practice of color.
Consult : Liitzow. Hans llakart ( Leipzig, 1886) Stiassny, Hans Jlakart end seine Wei Beller/lung (ib.. 1886); Van Rensselaer, in Portfolio (1956).