Where to See Adam Elsheimer

Adam Elsheimer's paintings can be viewed in several European museums. In Germany, his work is held at the Städelsches Kunstinstitut in Frankfurt am Main and the Staatliche Museen in Berlin. Other German^[3] museums with his paintings include the Herzog Anton Ulrich-Museum in Braunschweig, the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister in Dresden, the Niedersächsisches Landesmuseum in Hanover, and the Staatliche Graphische Sammlung in Munich. Elsewhere in Europe, Elsheimer's pieces can be found at the National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh, the Galleria degli Uffizi in Florence, the Musée du Louvre in Paris, the Royal Cabinet of Paintings Mauritshuis in The Hague, and the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. Works by Elsheimer are also held in the collection of the National Gallery in London. In the United States, The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the National Gallery of Art in Washington possess examples of his painting.

Adam Elsheimer (1578^[3]-1610^[3]) was a German^[3] painter and engraver. He was born in Frankfurt, the son of a tailor, and was a pupil of Philipp Uffenbach, a local painter and printmaker. He travelled to Italy around 1598^[3], and was active in Rome from 1600 until his death. Elsheimer's paintings are typically small scale and rendered on copper plates. Examples include *The Glorification of the Cross*, c. 1605, and *The Flight to Egypt*, 1609. Although Elsheimer was not widely known during his lifetime, his work had a considerable influence, particularly in Northern Europe. Hendrick Goudt, a Dutch artist who lived with Elsheimer, made seven engravings of Elsheimer's paintings between 1608 and 1613. These engravings helped to disseminate Elsheimer's work across Europe. Artists such as Claude, Rembrandt (who owned Goudt's engravings), and Peter Paul Rubens were all influenced by him. Elsheimer's interest in chiaroscuro effects came from studying the works of Caravaggio.

Adam Elsheimer, born in Frankfurt in 1578^[3], was a German^[3] painter and engraver who spent his final decade in Rome. Although he died in relative obscurity in 1610^[3], his work had a considerable effect on later artists, especially in northern Europe. Elsheimer's influence can be seen in the work of Claude Lorrain, Rembrandt, and his friend Peter Paul Rubens. These artists knew his work through the masterly engravings made by Hendrick Goudt, who lived with Elsheimer in Rome. Goudt created seven prints after Elsheimer's paintings between 1608^[3] and 1613. Elsheimer is known for small paintings on copper, such as *The Flight into Egypt* (1609). He had a particular interest in nocturnal scenes and the effects of light. While in Rome, Elsheimer was part of a circle of intellectuals and became a member of the Accademia di San Luca in 1606. His painting *The Stoning of Saint Stephen* (c. 1603/4) demonstrates his attention to detail and use of light. The painting's existence was unknown until it appeared in a Scottish collection in 1965.

Adam Elsheimer, born in Frankfurt in 1578^[3], was a German^[3] painter and engraver. He trained with Philipp Uffenbach, a local painter and printmaker. Around 1598^[3], Elsheimer travelled to Italy, and from 1600 he lived in Rome until his death in 1610^[3]. He was known as "Adamo Tedesco" in early sources. Although not widely known in his own time, his work had a widespread influence, especially in Northern Europe. Elsheimer specialised in small-scale paintings on copper plates. Examples include *The Flight into Egypt* (1609) and *The Glorification of the Cross* (circa 1605). His paintings often display great attention to detail. His work combines the Venetian use of colour with an understanding of light and an emphasis on realism. Elsheimer had a particular interest in nocturnal scenes and the effects of *chiaroscuro*, possibly influenced by Caravaggio and the Bassani. Light sources, such as the sun, moon, or fire, are almost invariably shown in his paintings.

Adam Elsheimer, born in Frankfurt in 1578^[3], spent his career in Italy, dying in Rome in 1610^[3]. Although not widely known in his own time, his paintings had a considerable effect on other artists, particularly in Northern Europe. His paintings, generally small-scale works on copper, became known through engravings made by Hendrick Goudt. Goudt, a Dutch artist, lived with Elsheimer and acted as both pupil and patron. Goudt's engravings, made from 1608^[3] to 1613, circulated Elsheimer's compositions. Elsheimer's influence is apparent in the work of Claude Lorrain, Rembrandt, and Peter Paul Rubens, who was also a close friend. Rembrandt owned Goudt's engravings. Figures taken from Elsheimer's painting, The Stoning of Saint Stephen (circa 1603-4), appear in works by David Teniers the Elder, Jacob Pynas, Frans Francken II, and the young Rembrandt. Rubens made a drawing, later engraved by Pieter Soutman, that also incorporates figures from The Stoning of Saint Stephen.

Identifying artistic influences involves recognising how artists adapt and improve upon existing works. Art theory, mirroring literary theory, describes this process as having three stages. The first, translatio, is a close copy serving as a technical study. The second, imitatio, is a variant demonstrating understanding of both structure and style. The final stage, aemulatio, is a version surpassing the original model. Franciscus Junius advised artists to seek guidance from the best masters. He noted that any recognisable influence must be an improvement, paying homage to the model while displaying the artist's superiority. This approach involves recognising an artist's sources, giving us a sense of their artistic development. For example, pupils in the Rembrandt workshop made faithful copies and variants of his paintings, incorporating his style into their own compositions and sometimes embellishing his inventions.

It is difficult to name one single work as Adam Elsheimer's 'most famous'. He died relatively young, and his stylistic influence on later painters is perhaps better known than any individual painting. Elsheimer's influence is particularly notable on Dutch and Italian Baroque painters. Many of his paintings feature religious or mythological subjects. Titles associated with Elsheimer include: *St Christopher*, *St George and the Dragon*, *St Margaret*, *St Nicholas Calming the Storm*, *Samson and Delilah*, *Samson and the Lion*, *Two Lansquenets and a Couple*, *Venus and Cupid*, *View of Sarmingstein*, *View of Schloss Wörth*, *Wild Family*, *Wild Man*, *Willow Landscape*, and *Witches’ Sabbath*. He also produced prints, including *Annunciation*, *Bathing Woman*, *Beheading of John the Baptist*, *Foliate Ornament*, *Holy Family at the Fountain*, *Jael and Sisera*, *Lucretia*, *Madonna with Blessing Christ Child*, *Pyramus and Thisbe*, *Regensburg Synagogue*, *Resurrection of Christ*, *St Christopher*, *St George*, *Schöne Maria of Regensburg*, and *Triumphal Procession*.

Adam Elsheimer (1578^[3]-1610^[3]) is associated with both the Baroque and Caravaggism styles. Born in Frankfurt, he became a pupil of Philipp Uffenbach. Around 1598^[3], Elsheimer relocated to Italy, where he absorbed influences from Venetian artists. He lived in Rome from 1600 until his death. There, in 1606, he joined the Accademia di San Luca. Elsheimer's paintings are known for their small scale and use of copper plates. His interest in chiaroscuro developed from studying Caravaggio's work. However, unlike Caravaggio, who often left the light source unidentifiable, Elsheimer typically depicted it directly, whether as the sun, moon, fire, or heavenly rays. His paintings also show attention to detail, use of colour, and emphasis on realism. Elsheimer's style influenced artists like Rembrandt, Claude Lorrain, and Peter Paul Rubens. Hendrick Goudt made engravings of Elsheimer's paintings, which helped to spread his style across Europe.