Friedrich August von Klinkowström

Who was Friedrich August von Klinkowström?

Friedrich August von Klinkowström was a German artist, author and teacher from an old Pomeranian noble family.

Klinkowström was born in Ludwigsburg in Swedish Pomerania to Friedrich Ernst Sebastian von Klinkowström and Anna Louise Wilhelmine von Rosenberg. He began studying at the University of Greifswald, but, in deference to the wishes of his father, a lieutenant-colonel in the Swedish army, Friedrich served in the Prussian Army from 1793 to 1802. After this he was allowed to follow his own inclination and become a painter. To perfect himself in his studies, he went to the famous Dresden Gallery. His early pictures as well showed a strong leaning towards the Roman Catholic Church. After four years of successful study he was called home and obliged to remain there quietly for two years, owing to the depressed political condition of the country after the Battle of Jena. Then he decided to head for Rome, journeying first through Paris where the victorious Napoleon had amassed art treasures from many lands.

His stay in Paris lasted nearly two years, and terminated with his engagement. Finally in 1810 he started for Rome. But the quickly formed friendship with Thorvaldsen, Rauch, Overbeck, and other artists, only lasted a year, as Klinkowström was obliged to look about for an assured position. This led him to Vienna to take a place as instructor, and his marriage followed in 1812. But the grave political situation after the Battle of Leipzig led the quiet artist once again to join the army. He participated in the Landwehr in Leipzig, Dresden, and Aachen. After the Treaty of Paris he returned to Vienna, where he found that during his absence his wife had been received into the Roman Catholic Church by Father Klemens Hofbauer. When he was told of this, he exclaimed: "So Louise has become a Catholic before me." A few months after this he followed the example of his "dear Louise". Then there came three quiet years of painting and literary work. He devoted himself particularly to children's books for which he provided designs and illustrations.