Gari Melchers: The Royal Academy of Art, Düsseldorf

"Gari Melchers" by Fritz Strobentz

"Gari Melchers also received instruction from his father at the Sunday drawing classes held by Julius Melchers for would-be Detroit artists. Julius recognized and encouraged his son's artistic ability. He is reported to have boasted proudly of Gari's work during these early days. It was decided, then, that Gari should study art in Europe, and Julius further insisted that his son should work for the entire seven-year period of his apprenticeship without pay, so that he might indulge his curiosity and devotion to art in a purely idealistic manner, without thought of financial gain.

It might be expected that the son would follow in his father's footsteps. Although study in Paris was considered, Mrs. Melchers rejected the idea because of her fear of the corrupting influence of the Parisian social milieu. Instead, the young artist was given a choice of studying at the art academy in either Munich or Düsseldorf, Germany. He chose the latter.

The decision to study in Düsseldorf was a pivotal one in Melchers' career, for German art was to have a profound influence on him at different stages of his development. Not only did this affect his entire life's work, but he was later influenced by the impressionistic style of the Germans Max Liebermann and Fritz von Uhde. Besides benefiting from the academic program of the school, Melchers also formed several long-standing friendships while at the academy. There the young painter met Fritz Strobentz, a German art student who was later to do several paintings of Melchers. Hugo Vogel would also remain a longtime friend. Melchers was photographed along with his fellow students at Düsseldorf in 1878, and he captured his classmates in a number of sketches done at the time."

To be continued

(Excerpts from "Gari Melchers: His Life and Art" by Joseph G. Dreiss.)