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Anton Raphael Mengs

German, 1728 - 1779

Painter. Born Aussig (Bohemia) 1728, died Rome 1779. 1741-44 Rome, studied Italian Renaissance painters. Trained amongst others by Marco Benefiale. 1744 moved to Dresden, where he became court painter in 1745. 1746 travelled to Rome, and lived there from 1759-61 and 1769-72. Developed a close relationship with Johann Winckelmann (q.v.) who he met in Rome.1773 spent whole year in Florence. Mengs was one of the leading German 18th century portrait painters with an international career as he worked for the Elector of Saxony, the Emperor in Vienna, the Pope and the Spanish and Neapolitan Crowns.
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