The poetry of stone and sky: Eduard Gaertner

Garnisonkirche, Potsdam, 1840.

Johann Philipp Eduard Gaertner (or Gärtner, 2 June 1801, Berlin - 22 February 1877, Flecken Zechlin), German painter who specialized in depictions of urban architecture. At the age of twelve, he began a six year apprenticeship at the Royal Porcelain Factory, but eventually felt that the instruction was superficial and took drawing classes at the Academy of Arts. In 1821, he accepted a position as a decorative painter in the studios of the Royal Court Theater; during this time, he became increasingly attracted to architectural painting. He went to Paris for a time, to study, and on his return to Berlin he became a free-lance painter, painting many of the castles in the vicinity of Berlin. In doing so he successfully attracted royal clientele. But after the death of King Friedrich Wilhelm III in 1840, and with the ever increasing competition from photography, he began to struggle financially. He attempted other venues and subject matters, but never regained his earlier success. In 1870, he left Berlin and settled in Flecken Zechlin, a rural area near Rheinsberg, where he died seven years later.

It is believed that he made use of a camera obscura in the preparation of his paintings.

The Neue Wache, Berlin, 1833.

Opernhaus und Unter den Linden, Berlin, 1845.

Stadtschloss, Berlin, 1830.

Stadtschloss, Berlin, 1832.

Stadtschloss, Berlin, 1830.

Schloss Charlottenburg von der Gartenseite, Berlin, 1846.

Schloss Bellevue von der Gartenseite, Berlin, 1847.

The Casino at Klein Glienicke, Potsdam, 1848.

Unter den Linden, Berlin, 1852.

Unter den Linden, Berlin, 1853.

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Staircase in the Berlin Stadtschloss, 1828.

Study of Prince Karl of Prussia, 1848.

Zimmerbild, 1849.

The Study of Prince Wilhelm in Sans Souci Palace, Potsdam, 1837.

Study of a boy lying down (the artist's son, Paul), circa 1845-50.