Georg Anton Urlaub

Portrait of his Wife, Maria; after his death she married the prince bishop's archivist, Johann Octavian Salver. Georg Anton Urlaub (20 June 1713 – 20 February 1759) was a Baroque painter from Franconia. He was associated for part of his career with the court of the prince bishop of Würzburg and painted portraits and also many frescoes and altarpieces for churches in Lower Franconia.

Early life and education Georg Anton Urlaub was born in Thüngersheim, the first or second of nine children of Anna Maria Feser and Georg Sebastian Urlaub. His father and his grandfather Egidius were also painters, as were two of his brothers, Johann Georg and Georg Christian.

Beginning in 1735 he was working at the Würzburg Residence under Prince Bishop Friedrich Karl von Schönborn, probably as an assistant and student of the court painter Johann Rudolf Byss. Byss was 73 at the time and Urlaub knew that he was held in high esteem by von Schönborn, who was seeking a suitable successor for him. In 1735 Urlaub created a self-portrait in pastels, including two works in progress to display his work ethic as well as his abilities; around 1737 he painted two small allegories celebrating the prince bishop's virtues as a ruler and wishing him a long life, and also displaying his education.

Selected works