FÜHRICH, JOSEPH von. – Painter and engraver, born on 8 February 1800 at Kratzan in Bohemia, died in Vienna on 13 March 1876. After studying in his homeland according to the methods of the ancient tradition, he came to Italy, and in Rome came into contact Nazarenes (v.), collaborating with those painters between 1827 and 1829 in the decoration of Villa Massimo.
Having returned to his homeland, and basing himself on the teachings received in Rome, he became the most authoritative representative of the purist movement in Bohemia and Austria. Settling in Prague from 1834, he was called to Vienna, first as director of the Academy Gallery and then as a professor; he spent the rest of his life in Vienna, working extensively for the churches of that city. He also produced numerous engravings with sacred subjects. Among his most famous paintings, Il Calvario in the church of S. Giovanni may be mentioned.
BBL.: H. V. Womdie, J. V. s. Wecke, Vienna 1914; H. Tietze, entry under the name in Enc. Ital., XVI, p. 136. Emilio Lavagnino