Julius Braun

Julius Braun (16 July 1825 in Karlsruhe – 1869 in Munich) was a German historian, with an interest in art, culture and religion.

Biography Braun was born in Karlsruhe and received his early education at the city's lyceum. He then studied at the universities of Heidelberg and Berlin, at first theology, but later philology and art history. He finished his formal studies in 1848, and passed the test for teachers in Karlsruhe that same year. From 1850 to 1853, he undertook an extensive study tour which brought him to Egypt, Syria, Asia Minor, Rome, Paris and London.

At first a privatdozent in the University of Heidelberg (1853), he later became a professor at the University of Tübingen for a short period of time (from 1860). However he wished to reach a wider audience and find a more stimulating atmosphere. Thus he finally went to Munich, where he lectured in the Academy of Arts. There he gained a circle of warm friends among the educated, but not the position he hoped for. He busied himself with his writings, and traveled to Rome again briefly. He finally died of a fever. Naturgeschichte der Sage (“Natural history of legends”, 2 volumes, 1864–65); considered to be his best work, Historische Landschaften (“Historical landscapes”, 1867). Gemälde der mohammedanischen Welt (“Islamic painting”, 1870).