Johann Georg von Dillis (1759-1841)

Neue Pinakothek

Georg von Dillis was not only famous as an insightful portrayer of the Bavarian countryside, but most especially through his royal appointment by King Max I Joseph and King Ludwig I as Inspector of the Hofgartengalerie and as Director of the Zentralgemäldegalerie. During Dillis' time in office the art treasures that were stolen by Napoleon were returned, the collections of the Düsseldorf, Mannheim and Zweibrücken galleries were integrated into the the Munich collections. As well, the newly erected Alte Pinakothek was fitted out. Dillis was also responsible for several important purchases, achieved by King Ludwig I, for example the Boisserée and Oettingen Wallerstein Collections with their important works of late medieval painting. As art agent and collection director he had direct influence over the new orientation and further development of the Munich galleries. Even though he studied theology and philosophy, Dillis was an important visual artist. As early as 1800 he was making oil sketches and watercolours from nature for private use, presaging what was to be an important 19th century art development. Although his early paintings, most specifically his Italian landscapes, still stick to late Baroque compositional schemes, he later freed himself from the guidelines of idealistic theory and painted distinctive landscapes, which were true to nature