The Life and Academic Career of Franz Klemmer
Born in Fischenich, Germany, Franz Klemmer began his artistic journey with an apprenticeship as a church painter. Following his training, he attended the Munich School of Applied Arts in 1905 and later studied painting at the Academy of Fine Arts Munich under Hugo Freiherr von Habermann. During the First World War, Klemmer served in a Bavarian field artillery regiment, a period during which he produced sketches and drawings that received significant attention.
After the war, Klemmer established a studio in Munich and began collaborating with Carl Johann Becker-Gundahl. This partnership led him toward fresco painting and eventually earned him a teaching position at the Academy of Fine Arts. In 1926, he was appointed to the chair of ecclesiastical painting, a position he held as he rose to the rank of professor. His pedagogical influence extended to students such as the church painter Karl Radinger.
Ecclesiastical Works and Artistic Legacy
Klemmer's career was marked by significant contributions to religious architecture. His notable works include:
In 1930, he was responsible for the painting of the widow's staff in the Munich Residenz, though this work was destroyed during the Second World War. For his contributions, Klemmer was named an honorary citizen of Pfaffenhofen and was awarded the Bavarian Order of Merit. He remained active in his work even after his retirement from the Academy of Fine Arts in 1947, continuing his practice until his death in Anzing.
