Daniel Gran (22May 169416April 1757) was an Austrian painter. His pictures ornament several public buildings in his native city. He was of some consideration in his time and after a century of Italian dominance one of the first important painters of the German-speaking countries, but his works are relatively unknown outside of Austria and Germany today.
Life and education
Gran was one of the sons of Hofkochs Kaiser Leopold I. He was sponsored by the House of Schwarzenberg, which helped finance his studies and travels in Italy, where he studied primarily with
Sebastiano Ricci in
Venice and Francesco Solimena in
Naples. His works can be noted for a wavering between Venetian influence in coloring and Neapolitan influence in composition. In addition to the Princely House of Schwarzenberg, he also painted for the House of Habsburg; 1727 he was appointed
court painter.
From 1732, he used the title "Daniel le Grand," and from 1736, with the predicate "della Torre." In the absence of documentation, the verifiability of his nobility in the Registry of Vienna Gratialarchivs is doubtful. More accurate is the master title and coat of arms of an imperial Fähnrich, Nikolaus Gran della Torre (ennobled on 12 May 1621) which successfully laid his claim and revived his title. A wrongful use of noble titles and predicates would have been unthinkable in the time and exposed the social position of the artist.[Walther Buchowiecki: Der Barockbau der ehemaligen Hofbibliothek in Wien, ein Werk J.B.Fischers von Erlach, S 146f. Georg Prachner Verlag, Wien 1957]
Towards the end of his career, his paintings appear increasingly less "Baroque" (in figural dimensions, illusionism). Gran therefore can be seen as an important precursor of classicism.
In 1894, in Vienna's Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus (15th District), the Grangasse street was named after him.
Works
- Frescoes
-
Palais Schwarzenberg (Vienna)
-
Prunksaal of the Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (formerly Hofbibliothek) (Vienna)
-
Eckartsau castle
-
Pilgrimage church Sonntagberg
-
cathedral in Sankt Pölten
-
Kaisersaal in Stift Klosterneuburg
-
Neues Rathaus and Landhaussaal in Brno
- Altar paintings
Self-portrait in the monastery of Herzogenburg.
Gallery
File:Daniel Gran - St Elizabeth Distributing Alms - WGA10354.jpg|St. Elizabeth Distributing Alms, 1736
File:Karlskirche - Wien 020.jpg|Christ and the Roman Captain, 1736
File:Daniel Gran - Paradies.JPG|Paradise (sketch for a ceiling fresco in Sonntagberg basilica, Austria), 1736
File:Daniel Gran - Maria mit Jesus und Johannes.JPG|Mary with Jesus and John, 1745
File:St. Pölten Dom Josephs-Altar 01.JPG|Rest on the Flight to Egypt, 1746
File:Stift Klosterneuburg Marmorsaal Fresko.JPG|Glory of the House of Austria, Ceiling fresco in marble hall of Klosterneuburg Monastery (1749)
File:Daniel Gran Allegorie der vier Jahreszeiten.jpg|Allegory of Four Seasons, 1757
File:Stiftskirche Herzogenburg Hochaltarbild 01.JPG|Madonna and Child with the St. George and St. Stephen
File:Large_view_of_Glory_of_Virgin_Mary_by_Daniel_Gran_-_Annakirche.jpg|Glory of Virgin Mary
File:Glory of St Anna - Daniel Gran - Annakirche Vienna.jpg|St. Anne in St. Anne's Church, Vienna
File:Österr.Nationalbibliothek-Deckengemälde der Prunksaalkuppel.jpg|Ceiling fresco of the State Hall dome
Notes
Further reading
-
Eckhard Knab: Daniel Gran. Herold, Wien/München 1977, .
-
Johann Kronbichler: GRANDEZZA - Der Barockmaler Daniel Gran 1694-1757. St. Pölten 2007, .
External links
