Theodore Kaufmann

Not to be confused with Theodore N. Kaufman (1910–1986), Jewish Zionist and anti-German propagandist who authored the 1941 pamphlet Germany Must Perish!.

Theodore Kaufmann (December 18, 1814 – 1896) was a German-born artist who worked mostly in the United States.

Theodore Kaufmann
Born	(1814-12-18)December 18, 1814 Uelzen, Germany
Died	1896 (aged 81–82) New York City, New York, USA
Known for	Military and historical paintings
Military career
Allegiance	Union Army
Battles / wars	American Civil War

Biography

Theodore Kaufmann was born in Uelzen, Germany. He served for several years as a mercantile apprentice and he studied painting in Düsseldorf with Peter von Cornelius, in Munich with Wilhelm von Kaulbach,^[1] and also in Hamburg and Dresden. He took part in the revolution at Dresden in 1848, and emigrated to the United States in 1850. He settled in New York City, where he painted portraits and taught. One of his students was editorial artist Thomas Nast. Kaufmann was not successful as a school director or painter in New York, and became an itinerant photographer and portrait painter.^[1]

During the American Civil War, Theodore Kaufmann is reported^{[by whom?]} to have fought in the Union Army and to have been a correspondent-artist. St. Louis, Missouri city directories list him as an artist in 1864 and 1865. After the Civil War, he resided in Boston and Washington, D.C. Louis Prang made color lithographs of some of Kaufmann's more popular pieces.^[1] Kaufmann is noted for his portraits and military and historical paintings. He died in New York City.^[1]

Works

Portrait of United States Senator from Mississippi Hiram Revels by Theodor Kaufmann

• "Gen. Sherman near the Watchfire"
• "On to Liberty"
• "A Pacific Railway Train attacked by Indians"
• "Slaves seeking Shelter under the Flag of the Union"
• "Admiral Farragut entering Harbor through Torpedoes"
• "Farragut in the Rigging"
• "Westward the Star of Empire" (c. 1880)
• "Die Entstehung der Gottesidee" ("The development of the idea of God"; a series of eight etchings which, along with explanatory text, are in the Library of Congress)^[1]