Johann Heinrich Ramberg
German painter and humorous caricaturist
Johann Heinrich (a.k.a. John Henry) Ramberg was a German painter and printmaker. Ramberg was born at Hanover to a father who fostered his artistic talent. He first showed his talent by drawings of scenes in the Harz Mountains. These became known to George III, King of Great Britain, his sovereign, since he was also Elector of Hanover. In 1781 he was introduced to George III and made "many humorous sketches and caricatures" for him. George induced Ramberg to go to London, where he provided support. Ramberg may have been a student of Joshua Reynolds and Francesco Bartolozzi; in November 1781, he studied with Benjamin West at the Royal Academy Schools. In 1782 he began exhibiting at the Royal Academy and in 1784 he was awarded a silver medal for his life drawing. In 1784 Ramberg drew the exhibition itself, showing Reynolds and the Prince of Wales, as well as several other pieces. According to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, "[t]hese works are of interest to historians for their record of exhibitions in the Great Room of the Royal Academy in the late eighteenth century." In 1788, Ramberg visited the Netherlands, Germany, and Italy, and then returned to Hanover in 1792, where he was appointed electoral court painter. While court painter he periodically took on students, including John Fischer. He painted the curtain the court theater in Hanover in 1789. He met the German author Goethe in 1790–91 and painted Alexander Crossing the Granicus as a decoration for Carlton House. He was also a book illustrator, participating in John Boydell's Shakespeare Gallery, for example, and Thomas Macklin's Poets' Gallery. He painted portraits of members of the British royal family: the princesses Mary, Elizabeth, and Sophia. He illustrated German almanacs and pocketbooks for over 20 years, but according to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography "his best illustrations are those which he himself etched for the narrative cycles Reineke Fuchs and Tyll Eulenspiegel, both published in 1826". He became one of the most well known illustrators in Germany. He did the drawings for a deluxe edition of Wieland's works. Ramberg died at Hanover and was buried in the Gartenkirchhof.
Relationship Network
Master student
- Joshua Reynolds Master
- Francesco Bartolozzi Master
- Benjamin West Master
Artworks by this artist (54 total)
- Theaterpublikum bei der Vorstellung eines Ballettstückes 1797
- Timon of Athens, IV, 3, Timon giving away the gold to Phrynia and Timandra 1829
- Merchant of Venice, Shylock and Jessica 1829
- Bänkelsänger auf der Piazetta in Venedig 1797
- Café auf der Piazetta zu Venedig
- King Lear, III, 2, Another part of the heath, enter Lear and the fool 1829
- Macbeth, I, 3, Macbeth & Banquo on the heath 1828
- The tempest, III, 1, Miranda; ‘If you’ll sit down, I’ll bear your logs the while, pray give me that, I’ll carry’t to the pile’ 1830
- King Lear, III, 6, chamber in a farm house, Kent, Gloucester, and fool bearing the king 1829
- Stage Set Design of an Ancient Roman Ruin being Converted into a Barn late 18th[-]mid-19th century
- Military recreation in Holland 1787
- Macbeth, IV, 1, Macbeth in witches cave 1829
- King Richard, IV, 3, murder of the princes in the tower 1831
- [King Lear, III, 7, Regan; ‘Go thrust him out at gates, and let him smell his way to Dover’ 1829
- Ball Game in Rome 1797
- Dolce far niente zu Neapel 1797
- Theaterpublikum bei einer Aufführung des Hamlet ca 1781-1788
- Politics inside-out – a Farce 1787
- Roman carnival scene
- Gitarre spielende Dame, auf ihren Liebhaber wartend