Adam Elsheimer
Famous Paintings by Adam Elsheimer
Biography of Adam Elsheimer
Adam Elsheimer(1578–1610) was a quite influential artist of his time but his repute for “ingenious fancy and precious finish” led to being unable to finish enough pieces to actually make a living. Elsheimer, despite having a talent that inspired Rembrandt and Peter Paul Rubens, died in debtors prison.
Most of Elsheimer’s works were painted on copper plates which were known as cabinet paintings. He was particularly admired for his use of diverse sources of illumination. Contemporaries described him as an extraordinary artist who “invented a style of small sceneries, landscapes, and other curiosities.”
Adam Elsheimer was born in Germany and did much of his painting in Rome.