Albert Anker was born on April 1, 1831, in Ins. He is considered the greatest Swiss painter of the 19th century. At the age of 11, he attended the exhibition "La Société des amis des Arts" in Neuchâtel, which sparked his early interest in art. Anker graduated from the Gymnasium Kirchenfeld in Bern with the Matura examination. He began studying theology in Bern and later at the University of Halle. Eventually, he was granted permission to pursue a career as an artist. He discontinued his theological studies and moved to Paris. He earned his living by giving drawing lessons and copying paintings. In November, he became a student of the renowned Swiss painter Charles Gleyre.
From 1855 to 1860, Anker attended the "École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts de Paris." During his studies, he participated in exhibitions at the Paris Salon and in Switzerland. In 1864, Anker married Anna Rüfli, a friend of his deceased sister Louise. To support his family, Anker worked as a faience painter, decorating more than 500 faience plates for the Alsatian manufacturer Théodore Deck.
Anker was very popular and well-known in Switzerland, led an active social life, and was a member of many international juries. In 1901, he suffered a severe stroke, which left his right hand paralyzed. This significantly limited his ability to work. He found it difficult to work on large oil paintings and focused on watercolors. Albert Anker passed away on July 16, 1910, at the age of 79 in his home in Ins. Many of Anker's works have appeared on Swiss postage stamps to this day. To honor him, the Albert Anker Foundation was established, and his studio in Ins was turned into a museum.
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