Caspar David Friedrich was born two hundred and fifty years ago in Greifswald in Pomerania in 1774 (a year before the birth of Turner and two years before that of Constable). His unique contribution was to transform the subject of landscape by infusing it with deep spiritual meaning and by expressing the universal power of nature. Three major exhibitions took place throughout 2024 to celebrate his life and work, in Hamburg, Berlin and Dresden, and last year, in 2025, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York put on the first solo exhibition of his work in the USA. Although he was little appreciated when he died in 1840, during his lifetime his work was collected by royal and noble patrons and is today enthusiastically admired in the museums of Berlin and Dresden, as well as, more recently at London’s National Gallery.
Biography of Clare Ford-Wille
Honours degree in History of Art, Birkbeck College, University of London. Regular commitments include Centre for Lifelong Learning, London University, National Gallery, V&A Museum, WEA, Morley College, the City Literary Institute, the Art Fund and National Trust. Study tours abroad.
Photo of ‘Der Wanderer uber dem Nebelmeer’, Public Domain