(Königsberg 1814–1879 Düsseldorf) After Church, signed and dated Carl Hübner 1874, oil on canvas, 78 x 91.5 cm, framed, (Rei)

Compare: Friedrich von Boetticher, Malerwerke des 19. Jahrhunderts, Vol. I,2, p. 615f. Carl Wilhelm Hübner He was a student of W. Schadow and K.Sohn at the Düsseldorf Academy. He settled in Düsseldorf where he started out painted scenes of country life before quickly moving on to depict social grievances. The sad affair of the Schlesian weavers, with which the newspapers were much occupied at the time, was pivotal in leading him to the field of social comment. His first painting of this type, „The Weavers“, was full of figures and had an extraordinary impact. It was repeatedly reproduced as a lithograph. In the 1840’s he took as his subject matter outcasts, wood thieves, poachers, usurers and similar types. After 1848 Hübner‘s art turned along more peaceful lines; his genre was now mainly serious characters, lightened by an occasional twist of humour. During the winter of 1874/ 75 he travelled to North America which inspired him to greater activity. He exhibited regularly at the Berlin Academy from 1838 onwards, as well as at international exhibitions abroad. He was a Professor and Member of the Academies of Amsterdam and Philadelphia. His influence on contemporary and younger artists in Düsseldorf was fairly significant. He was the founder and, for many years, a board member of the “Verein Düsseldorfer Künstler”, and a member and godfather to the “Malkasten” association.