Jacob Acker

Who is Jacob Acker?

Jacob Acker was a painter in the second half of the 15th century in Ulm, Germany. He painted the impressive altar in the St. Leonhard cemetery Chapel in Ehingen-Risstissen, Germany which bears his inscription Jacob acker maler zu ulm hat diese dafel gemacht uf des hailligen Kreutz tag an herst. anno dmi MCCCCLXXXIII jar. This means: "Jacob Acker, painter in Ulm has completed this painting on the day of the holy cross in the year of 1483".

Not much is known about this Jacob Acker "der Jüngere". Most probably he belonged to the extended Ulm artist family of the Acker, many of them members of the so-called "Ulmer Schule". This dynasty of artists started with Jakob Acker "dem Älteren", who lived around 1400. He painted some of the glass windows of the Ulm cathedral today still existing. His son Hans Acker continued with this profession and also his glass windows still can be admired in the Ulm cathedral. Whether Jacob Acker "der Juengere" is a son or brother of Hans Acker is not known.

But it is known that Jakob Acker d. J. had produced doors with paintings for the main organ of the Ulm cathedral. This organ and Jakob Acker's doors are lost.