Karl Anton Hickel: A Portraitist of European Royalty Karl Anton Hickel (1745 – 1798) stands as a significant figure in the artistic landscape of the late Enlightenment, primarily recognized for his prolific output of portraits capturing the grandeur and complexities of European aristocracy during his lifetime. Born in Český Krumlov, Bohemia, Hickel’s artistic journey commenced with enrollment at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna in 1758, where he honed his skills under the tutelage of esteemed instructors—a formative experience that would profoundly shape his stylistic sensibilities and establ…