Anna Stainer-Knittel (28 July 1841, Elbigenalp - 28 February 1915, Wattens) was an Austrian portrait and flower painter. An incident from her life served as the basis for the novel Die Geier-Wally by Wilhelmine von Hillern; an early example of feminist literature.
Her father was a gunsmith who had a quick temper but who encouraged his daughter's talents and ambitions. [1] The sculptor, Josef Alois Knittel, was her uncle and the painter, Joseph Anton Koch, was her great-uncle.
She began her studies in 1859 at the Academy of Fine Arts, Munich, but she was not allowed to attend the main school because she was a woman. [1] She had to return home in 1864 due to lack of funds. During this period, she painted numerous portraits of her family and landscape views. She later moved to Innsbruck and was able to support herself as a portrait painter. In 1867, against her parents' wishes, she married a ceramicist named Engelbert Stainer. During their time together, she created many floral designs for his cups, plates and saucers.
From 1868 to 1871, they had three children; two sons and a daughter. In 1873, she opened a painting school for women, which she operated almost until her death. Among her students were Maria Tilipaul-Kistler (1884-1963) and Wilhelmine Redlich (1869-1954).
At the age of seventeen, Anna volunteered to rappel down a rock wall to remove an eagle's nest. In the 19th century, this was a common practice to prevent eagles from attacking the local sheep herds. The previous year, a similar attempt almost ended in tragedy for the climbers, so no other volunteers could be found. She was able to grab the eaglet, stuff him in her rucksack, and ascend without incident although, later, it was said that she was attacked by an adult eagle during the climb.
In 1863, this event was described by Ludwig Steub in his story, Das Annele im Adlerhorst [2] Later, it was recounted in Wolfs Illustrirter Rundschau.
Finally, in 1873, it was depicted in a novel by Wilhelmine von Hillern called Die Geier-Wally ("The Vulture Maiden" in English; [3] eagles were often derisively referred to as "vultures"). The author had become acquainted with Anna and her husband in Innsbruck and decided to render her story in a dramatic, Shakespearean style; naming her heroine "Walburga" (Wally), dramatizing her conflicts with her father, and creating a sort of feminist tract.
In 1892, the story was adapted for an opera: La Wally , by Alfredo Catalani. It has also been filmed numerous times, notably:
Albert von Keller was a German painter of Swiss ancestry. He specialized in portraits and indoor scenes. Female figures are a prominent feature of his work.
La Wally is an opera in four acts by composer Alfredo Catalani, to a libretto by Luigi Illica, first performed at La Scala, Milan, on 20 January 1892.
Elfriede Lohse-Wächtler was a German painter of the avant-garde whose works were banned as "degenerate art", and in some cases destroyed, in Nazi Germany. She became mentally ill and was murdered in a former psychiatric institution at Sonnenstein castle in Pirna under Action T4, a forced euthanasia program of Nazi Germany. Since 2000, a memorial center for the T4 program in the house commemorates her life and work in a permanent exhibition.
Archduke Karl Ludwig Josef Maria of Austria was the younger brother of both Franz Joseph I of Austria and Maximilian I of Mexico, and the father of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria (1863–1914), whose assassination ignited World War I. His grandson was the last emperor of Austria, Charles I.
Prince Ludwig Gaston of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, known in Brazil as Dom Luís Gastão, was a German prince of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha-Koháry, and the last surviving grandchild of Emperor Pedro II of Brazil.
Archduke Ludwig Viktor Joseph Anton of Austria was the youngest child of Archduke Franz Karl of Austria and his wife Princess Sophie of Bavaria, and as such was the younger brother of Emperor Franz Joseph I. He had a military career, as was usual for archdukes, but did not take part in politics. He was openly homosexual and declined to marry princesses who were sought for him. He is well known for his art collection and patronage as well as philanthropy.
Countess Fanny "Franziska" zu Reventlow 18 May 1871 – 26 July 1918) was a German writer, artist and translator, who became famous as the "Bohemian Countess" of Schwabing in the years leading up to World War I.
Caroline Bardua was a German painter. She was one of the first middle-class women who was able to create an existence for herself as an independent artist.
Sabine Lepsius was a German portrait painter.
Wilhelmine von Hillern was a German actress and novelist.
Karl Philipp Fohr, a brother of Daniel Fohr, was born at Heidelberg in 1795.
Maria Slavona, born Marie Dorette Caroline Schorer was a German impressionist painter.
Carl Julius Milde was a German painter, curator and art restorer.
Broncia Koller-Pinell was an Austrian Expressionist painter who specialized in portraits and still-lifes.
Anna Peters was a German painter remembered for her flower paintings and landscapes. She was the daughter and pupil of the Dutch landscape painter Pieter Francis Peters.
Elisabeth von Eicken was a German landscape painter.
Maria Anna Walburga Lämmerhirt was a German painter, drafter, travel writer, and lady-in-waiting. Through her diary, Für mich gemerkt auf meiner Reise nach Italien 1791, she contributed to travel literature.
The Tirol Panorama with the Museum of the Imperial Infantry or Tirol Panorama is a museum in Innsbruck in the Austrian state of Tyrol, which is mainly important because it houses the Innsbruck Giant Panorama Painting.
Emilie Linder was a Swiss painter and art patron.
Josef Alois Knittel was an Austrian-born German sculptor. On his mother's side, he was a nephew of the painter, Joseph Anton Koch; on his father's side, an uncle of Anna Stainer-Knittel. His sons, Gustav Adolf and Berthold Knittel also became sculptors.
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