Herman Herzog (1832 - 1932 )

Herman Herzog was born in Bremen, Germany in 1832. At age 17, he enrolled in the Dussledorf academy and studied under Johann Wilhelm Schirmer - a historical landscape painter. He also worked with Andreas Achenbach - another landscape artist who focused on the aggressive qualities of nature. Herzog later studied as a private student of Hans Frederick Gude, who was a Norwegian landscape painter. By the mid 1850’s, after making money from selling a few of his paintings, he traveled a much as possible, having been encouraged by Gude to travel for inspiration. He went to Norway, and became enthralled with it’s beauty. His experience there gave him an increased desire to continue exploring and painting places around the world. Over the years, he traveled to Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, France, the Bavarian Tyrol and Holland. (1).

Herzog excelled in all types of scenery he painted. His subject matter ranged from marine, mountain, wilderness, waterfall and pastoral scenes. He was inspired by Andreas Achenbach when he was at Dusseldorf, so many of his marine paintings had the theme of “man against nature.” He also painted genre scenes and portraits, so some of his landscapes have figures in them. He refrained from painting elements that were uglier due to the rising industrialization, and stuck to the natural beauty of landscapes. (1).

During the early 1870’s, Herzog immigrated to the United States, during which he eventually settled in Philadelphia. In 1871, he went on a sketching trip where he recorded scenes of the Delaware River, Atlantic City, Lake George, the Hudson River, Niagara Falls and Valleyhouse, New Hampshire. He later took trips to California and the Far West. In the early 1880’s, he sketched and painted more areas around the waters of the Delaware at Minisink Island. Herzog’s extensive travels throughout Europe and the United States is reflected in his many paintings. He continued to paint and draw until he passed away at the age of 100 in 1932. (1).

(Hayley Partridge)

Atlantic City

Atlantic City, n.d., graphite on paper, 4 x 6 inches. Photograph: AskArt.com/Swann Galleries, 2004.

Herzog’s sketch of Atlantic City is about 4 x 6.5 inches. Throughout his life, Herzog was extremely interested the appearance of earth and water and how they transformed according to the changing atmosphere. (1). He had to be able to record what he saw as quickly and as accurately as possible before it changed again. He knew the best time of day and season to paint or draw a scene when it was most beautiful. (3). This drawing is a perfect example of his ability to sketch the details of nature quickly, capturing a moment in time.

(Hayley Partridge)

Works cited

1.Lewis, Donald. Herzog. (Pennsylvania: Brandywine River Museum, 1992).

2. Perkins, Charles. Cyclopedia of Painters and Paintings. (Port Washington, New York: Kennikat Press inc, 1969).

3. CR Galleries (See link below.)