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SCHÖPFER, Hans the Elder - b. ~1505 , d. 1569 München - WGA

SCHÖPFER, Hans the Elder

(b. ~1505 , d. 1569 München)

German painter. He studied (1520-25) with Wolfgang Mielich (fl 1506-41) and is mentioned in the records of the Munich painters’ guild in 1531; in 1538 they elected him their leader. Schöpfer, a native Bavarian, came to Munich from Nuremberg and was primarily active as a portrait painter. His work rivalled that of Barthel Beham, though it was more primitive, weaker on anatomy, rougher in draughtsmanship, but mellower in colouring.

His signature, the monogram HS, with a ladle (Ger. Schöpflöffel; a pun on the artist’s name), appears on the portrait of Achaz Busch (1532; Munich, Lenbachhaus) and the Portrait of a Lady with a Parrot (1539; Munich, Bayerisches Nationalmuseum). A Gentleman - Riedler or Schrenk (1532; Munich, Bayerisches Nationalmuseum) and an Armed Gentleman (Munich, Bayerischen Staatsgemäldesammlungen) can be attributed to Schöpfer stylistically. With the series of portraits of ladies and officials at the ducal court (from 1549; Munich, Bayerischen Staatsgemäldesammlungen and Bayerisches Nationalmuseum), his talent flagged.

Portraits of a Gentleman and a Lady
Portraits of a Gentleman and a Lady by

Portraits of a Gentleman and a Lady

Although he was active at the Court of Duke William IV, painting numerous Wittelsbach (European royal family and German dynasty from Bavaria) portraits, he clearly had an active practice painting portraits of the merchant classes, of which these are typical examples.

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