FÜHRICH, JOSEPH von. – Painter and engraver, born 1 February 1800 at Kratzan in Bohemia, died at Vienna on 13 March 1876. After studying in his homeland following the ways of the ancient tradition, he came to Italy and in Rome came into contact with the group of the Nazarenes (v.), collaborating with those painters, between 1827 and 1829, in the decoration of Villa Massimo.
Having returned to his homeland, 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 professor, and in Vienna he spent the rest of his life actively working for the churches of that city. He also produced numerous engravings of sacred subjects. Among his most famous paintings one may recall the Calvary in the church of St John.