Сельский праздник

2. Februar 1827

Born

1845

Trip to northern Italy with Albert Flamm

With his friend and later pupil Albert Flamm he travels to northern Italy; the paintings that came of it are mostly Italian landscape motifs, and his early work shows the influence of Johann Wilhelm Schirmer and Carl Rottmann (another account has him moving to Bavaria in 1845 and then to Italy).

11 August 1848

A founder of the Malkasten

He is one of the original signatories of the founding document of the Düsseldorf artists’ association “Malkasten” (“Paintbox”), founded on 11 August 1848 by artists opposed to the academy; the associations stage plays, music evenings and exhibitions, and Achenbach often directs and acts. He stays attached to the Malkasten for the rest of his life.

summer 1850

Olevano: Böcklin, Thiersch and Dreber

On this trip he gets to know several painters better, among them Arnold Böcklin, Ludwig Thiersch and Heinrich Dreber, with whom he spends a long time at Olevano. Thiersch later remarked how differently they worked: Dreber made elaborate pencil sketches, Böcklin took in the scenery and noted little, while Achenbach and Flamm painted oil studies in the open air.

1855

World’s Fair in Paris: a warm reception

Several of his works are shown at the Exposition Universelle in Paris and are very well received. Works by Gustave Courbet, whose realism may later have influenced his manner, are on show there too.

1863

From opponent to professor at the academy

In March 1863 he becomes professor of landscape painting at the Düsseldorf Academy, succeeding Hans Gude; the post brings social elevation and financial security, though it seems at odds with his earlier opposition. With Schadow gone from the directorship since 1859 the conflicts have eased, and the appointment is a conscious political move to reconcile the academy with independent artists.