The Flamenco Dancer Leopold Schmutzler (German, 1864-1941)

Leopold Schmutzler 
(German, 1864-1941)

The Flamenco Dancer
signed 'L Schmutzler' (lower right)

Oil on canvas 

180 x 109.5cm (70 7/8 x 43 1/8in)

Leopold Schmutzler (29 March 1864, Stříbro – 20 June 1940, Munich) was a Bohemian-born German painter. He specialized in portraits, semi-erotic female figures, and Rococo style genre scenes.

He was the son of a saddler and innkeeper, who also gave him his first drawing lessons. Originally, he planned to attend the "Naval School of Music" in Pula,but was turned down for poor eyesight. From 1880 to 1882, he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna with Christian Griepenkerl (ironically, the person who later rejected Hitler's application to the Academy). After that, he exhibited at Academy of Fine Arts Munich, and studied with Otto Seize. He settled there after his graduation in 1885. He also spent brief study periods in Rome and Paris.

By the turn of the century, he had become one of the busiest portrait painters in Munich.

He received important commissions from the Bavarian Royal Family but also portrayed dancers and other popular performers. In fact, one of his best-known portraits was of the actress Lili Marberg (1876–1962) in the role of Salome.
His style was generally realistic with Art Deco elements. He always paid great attention to his subject's clothing but, conversely, also painted many nudes.