Anselm Feuerbach: the painter, the friend

Brahms loved art. He was great friends with several artists and even found his inspiration from a few of their paintings. He was particularly close to German painter, Anselm Feuerbach. They both held great admiration for one another’s crafts. Brahms admired the way that Anselm Feuerbach inserted his personality and self-conscious restraint into his work. He painted with a sense of luminosity, humility and refinement which Brahms considered to be more attractive, rather than grandiose, overdone, ideas like that of other painters of the time (particularly Hans Makart, long-time rival of Feuerbach).

After Feuerbach passed away, Brahms wanted to honor his memory by composing his orchestral/choral piece “Nanie, Opus. 82" (translated to: a funeral song). This piece is dedicated to Feuerbach’s mother for her hard work in honoring the reputations and memories of her son. 

 (I am posting a link to a performance on youtube, it totals to be about 12 minutes long, but listen to it when you get a chance... it's absolutely beautiful)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hb4qj_z4294

There is no single painting known to have inspired Brahms more than the others, the biggest inspiration was Feauerbach's life and friendship in general. I am posting some of his most well received works of art. 

The Symposium

The Mandolin Player

Iphigenia

The Garden of Ariosto