Wolf Huber Austrian and German artist Country: Germany

Biography of Wolf Huber

Wolf Huber was an Austrian and German artist, known for his contributions to the Danube School of Northern Renaissance and his mastery of landscape drawing. He was born in Feldkirch, Austria, into a family of artists. The exact date of his birth is unknown, but it is estimated to be around 1485.

From 1510 onwards, Huber primarily resided in Passau, Bavaria, where he served as an artist and architect for the local bishops until his death. He passed away in Passau in 1553. Huber gained recognition as an artist through his exceptional pen drawings of landscapes. These dynamic compositions were considered remarkable for their time and were regarded as independent works of art. In his later paintings, which included religious themes and portraits, landscape backgrounds also played a significant role.

In addition to his drawings and 10 color engravings, Huber is credited with approximately 30 paintings. However, his most notable work is the Altar of Saint Anne, which he created for the church in his hometown of Feldkirch between 1515 and 1521. The altarpiece is currently dismantled and dispersed across various museum collections.

Huber also worked as a portraitist, and his portrait of the humanist Jacob Ziegler, painted in the 1540s, is particularly noteworthy. This portrait, held in the collection of the Museum of Art History in Vienna, depicts Ziegler in a close-up, strict profile pose against a somewhat surreal, cosmic landscape. Huber skillfully emphasizes the most important components of the painting, with Ziegler's head standing out against a blue sky and his hands contrasting against dark clothing. There is no consensus among researchers regarding the authorship of certain works attributed to Huber. For example, some attribute the "Adoration of the Magi" painting (circa 1512-1520, in the collection of Baron Thyssen-Bornemisza) to Huber, while others believe it to be the work of an unknown artist familiar with him. Previously, this work was attributed to Altdorfer.