Adolph von Menzel (1815–1905) was a German painter, draftsman and illustrator and is considered the most important realist of the 19th century. He was born in Breslau and moved to Berlin in 1830, where he began his artistic career after the early death of his father. He became famous above all for his representations from the life of Frederick the Great, such as *The Battle of Hochkirch* and the encounter with Emperor Joseph II. Later he turned increasingly to contemporary themes and social scenes. Although he was close to the Prussian court, he remained distant from awards, but received numerous honors and was raised to the nobility in 1898. Today his works can be seen in important museums such as the Alte Nationalgalerie in Berlin, and his influence on German art remains unforgotten.
