Carl von Kügelgen

German painter, draughtsman, lithographer, teacher. Twin brother of Gerhard von Kügelgen, father of artist Constantin von Kügelgen (1810–1880). Born to Franz Ferdinand Anton von Kügelgen (1727–88) and Maria Justina Hoegg (1744–1805) in the Palatinate town of Bacharach am Rhein (1772). Attended the University of Bonn alongside Ludwig van Beethoven (1786–89) and studied painting under Januarius Zick in Coblenz (1789–90) and Christoph Fesel in Würzburg (1790–91). Moved with his brother to Bonn (1791). Awarded a scholarship by the elector of Cologne to Rome (1791), where he studied the works of Nicolas Poussin and Claude Lorraine and painted a portrait of Lord Bristol (1796). Travelled via Vienna and Berlin to Riga (1796) and Reval (1798). Invited by Paul I to St Petersburg (1798), where he painted landscapes for the imperial family. Sent by Tsar Alexander I to work in the Crimea (1803, 1806), where he made four hundred sepia drawings and thirty paintings. Elected to the Imperial Academy of Arts in St Petersburg (1804) and an honorary member of the Königliche Akademie der bildenden Künste in Berlin (1804). Married Emilie Zoege von Manteuffel (1788–1835), younger sister of his brother Gerhard’s wife (1807). Invited by his landowner friend Vasily Zlobin to his estate at Volsk in Saratov Province (1809–16), where he planned to found a centre of arts. Forced to return to Estonia after Zlobin went bankrupt and died (1816). Lived at Küti Manor near Viru-Jaagupi (1816–27), where he opened a private school of art. Travelled via Narva to Finland at the request of Tsar Alexander I (1818). Published a series of sixteen drawings entitled Vues des environs de Narva (1818) and fifteen lithographs entitled Vues pittoresques de la Finlande dedié à Sa Majesté I’Impératrice Elisabeth Alexiewna, par C. de Kügelgen (1823–24). Settled at his estate of Friedheim near Reval (1827). Published two collections of Crimean landscapes entitled Huit vues de la Crimée, dessinées d’après nature et lithographiées par C. de Kügelchen (1827) and commissioned by Nicholas I to paint local views for Kadriorg Palace (1831). Died at Friedheim and buried at Kopli Cemetery in Reval (1832).