Wilhelm Henschel

Wilhelm Henschel (March 15, 1785 – June 27, 1865) was a German-Jewish artist especially known for his drawings, and as a member of the artistic team the Brothers Henschel (Gebrüder Henschel), together with his three brothers, Friedrich (1781-1837), August (1782-1828) und Moritz (1785-1862). Active in Berlin and in their hometown, Breslau (Wrocław), the brothers were known for drawings, pastels, engravings, miniature paintings, and lithographs.

Biography Wilhelm and his brothers were born of a Jewish family, in Trachenberg (Żmigród), and grew up in Breslau, then in Prussian Silesia. Their father, Hirsch Henschel, was a merchant; their uncle (Hirsch's older brother) Elias Henschel (1755-1839) was a prominent physician. In Breslau the brothers attended the new Jewish secular school (the Wilhelmschule, founded 1791), where, among other subjects, they learned drawing. In 1806 all four brothers had individual entries in the Academy exhibition; and in 1810 they collectively participated with some ten works, including pastels and engravings. Besides producing engravings, they were among the first in Berlin to experiment with the new printing technique of lithography.

In 1812 the Prussian Academy of Arts bestowed upon Wilhelm Henschel and his brother August the title “Akademische Künstler” (academic artist), although, as Jews, they were never members of the academy.

In 1819, in honor of Goethe's 70th birthday, the Henschel brothers began work on a series of pictures depicting scenes from the poet's life, based on episodes he recounts in the first volume of his autobiography (Aus meinem Leben: Dichtung und Wahrheit). They dedicated the work to the Prussian king, Friedrich Wilhelm III, and sent the king a first printing of an initial set, in May 1819; the series was finally completed and published in its entirety as Scenen aus Goethe's Leben (Scenes from Goethe's life) in 1821.

The Henschel brothers produced portraits of many personalities of Berlin of their times, including Johann Gottlieb Fichte, Wilhelm von Humboldt, August von Kotzebue, and Julius von Voss. They produced numerous portraits for the king and his family, including memorial portraits following the death of Queen Luise, in 1810.

When August Henschel died in 1828, Wilhelm returned to his home city of Breslau; his two other brothers, Friedrich and Moritz, had already done so at an earlier point, even as they had all continued to work as an artistic team.

Selected Works by the Brothers Henschel Source: Ifflands mimische Darstellungen für Schauspieler und Zeichner: Während der Vorstellung gezeichnet zu Berlin in den Jahren 1808 bis 1811. Berlin, 1811-1818 Begebenheiten aus dem heiligen Kriege. Berlin, circa 1813. A series of portraits related to the German campaign against Napoleon (War of Liberation) Scenen aus Goethe's Leben: bildlich dargestellt; zum ersten Bande 'Aus meinem Leben: Dichtung und Wahrheit'; ein Geschenk für die deutsche Jugend. Berlin/Breslau, 1821