A Life in Art and Instruction
Gustav Curt Stever was a painter, university teacher, history painter, genre painter, and portrait painter. Born in Riga, Latvia, he later resided in several European cities throughout his career. His academic journey included studying at the Berlin Academy of Arts from 1847 to 1850. Following this, he spent time in Stockholm, where he painted portraits for the royal court and Uppsala University. His artistic training continued in Paris, where he was a student of Thomas Couture.
Stever's professional life saw him settling in Hamburg in 1859 before moving to Düsseldorf in 1865, a central hub for the Düsseldorf school of painting. In Düsseldorf, he served as a teacher to Paul Spangenberg and eventually became a professor in 1873. His work often focused on ecclesiastical subjects, including church paintings and designs for stained glass windows.
Notable Works and Commissions
Stever's repertoire includes various religious and historical subjects. His notable works include:
He was also commissioned to create designs for stained glass windows, including depictions of Peter and Paul, David and Elias, Abraham and Moses, and Augustine and Luther. His artistic contributions extended to the Paulskirche in Schwerin, where he created cartoons for five choir windows, and to the Schröder Mausoleum in Hamburg.
