The Life and Identity of Carl Ludvig von Plötz
Carl Ludvig von Plötz was a painter from Denmark. His life left behind a trail of various names and spellings in the records of his time. He was known as Carl Ludwig von Plötz, Carl Ludwig Ploetz, and Carl Plötz. In some accounts, his name appears as Carl Ludwig von Pløtz, Carl Ludwig von Ploetz, or even Carl v. Ploetz. These variations reflect the shifting ways his identity was captured on paper throughout his years of practice.
The timing of his beginning is not fixed in a single certain date. He was born in 1803 or 1804. He lived through the first half of the nineteenth century, a period that shaped the visual language of his surroundings. His presence in the art world ended when he died in 1849.
Notable Works and Output
His hand was steady in the early years, as seen in the 1821 detailed drawing of Westye Egeberg. This specific work remains part of the Norwegian portrait archive. It shows a focus on the fine lines required for such a record.
The use of pastel became a recurring choice in his later years. In 1835, he produced a pastel portrait that measures 22 x 17.5 cm, held within a frame of 31.5 x 26.5 cm. The work is signed and dated, marking a specific moment in his practice. He also worked on two pastel portraits of a man and a woman. The portrait of the man carries a signature from 1836.
