Franz Müller (1843-1929) Portrait of Ignatius

Franz Müller was a painter of religious subjects and of the folk and folkways of 19th century Germany. He was born in Dusseldorf in 1843. He trained as a historical and portrait painter at the Düsseldorf Academy of Art, where he was educated, among others, by Karl Ferdinand Sohn, Ernst Deger and Eduard Bendemann, who very much influenced Müller in his way of painting.

This is one of four of a series of saints by his hand we have acquired. Each measures 7 3/4″ x 9 1/2″ and their handsome oak frames are 13 1/2″ x 15 3/4″.

The work is identified on the back of the frame as a depiction of the Apostle Ignatius, leaving us unsure whether this is meant to be the early Christian martyr Ignatius of Antioch or the more famous founder of the Jesuit order, Ignatius of Loyola.

There is minor paint loss as seen in the photographs.