Peter Janssen

Who was Peter Janssen?

Johann Peter Theodor Janssen was a German historical painter. He was born at Düsseldorf, son of the engraver Theodor Janssen, by whom he was first instructed before studying at the Academy under Karl Sohn and Bendemann. He is principally known through a series of decorative works whose monumental style and sound naturalism won him a reputation as one of the foremost historical painters of his time. He became professor at the Düsseldorf Academy in 1877 and its director in 1895, and was elected a member of the Berlin Academy in 1885. In Berlin he worked also for Emil Hünten. His more important mural paintings include:

"The Colonization of the Baltic Coast", in the exchange at Bremen

"The Myth of Promethus," in 12 compositions, in the second Cornelius Room of the National Gallery in Berlin

"Seven Momentous Episodes in the History of Erfurt", Town Hall, Erfurt

"Human Life," "Imagination," "Beauty," and "Nature," in the Aula of the Düsseldorf Academy