Hermann Corrodi

Orientalist style oil on canvas genre painting by Corrodi

Late 19th Century

Herman Corrodi was a Swiss Painter. He was the son of Salomon Corrodi. A New York Times obituary indicates that Hermann was born in Zurich, however his grave marker indicates that he was born in Frascati, which is near Rome. Corrodi studied at the Accademia di S. Luca under his father, Salomon Corrodi (1810–1892) and in Paris (1872). He received commissions for history paintings from the British royal family and was acquainted with most of the European royalty of the time, including a friendship with Queen Victoria and travelled widely in the Far East, including Egypt, Syria, Cyprus and Istanbul, which provided the subject for many of his paintings. He is the brother of Arnold Corrodi. Originally a landscape painter in the academic style, much of Hermann's work is also typical of the Orientalism style of the 19th century. In 1893 he was knighted 'Accademico di Merito' by the Accademia di San Luca, where he had been a professor. The father of the Hermann Corrodi came to Rome early in the last century and established himself here as a watercolour painter. Hermann, who has just died, was born In the little town of Frascati, 12 miles from Rome. He inherited the talent of his father, and every encouragement and assistance to the development of his artistic faculties were given him. Like several other Roman artists, he was gifted with eye-memory, certain effects in nature and certain Impressions of subjects and land scapes remained clearly pictured in his min from the age of 6 years, and 20 years afterward he painted what he considered one of his best pictures from an impression received at that early age. Like most other painters, Hermann Corrodi desired to study the works of contemporary painters In other countries. He, with his younger brother Arnold, was sent to Germany ; and they also passed some time with the painter Calame at Geneva. But it was in Paris that they felt themselves most benefited. There they were possessed with a great enthusiasm for the French school, and from this time onward there Is a complete change in their treatment of subjects and mode of work. Hermann became the painter of poetic landscapes. The Mediterranean, with its blue waters and sun-bleached shores, the life and motion and colour of processions in the little cities on religious festivals and views near Rome In the ever-changing, ever-beautiful Campagna, formed the choice subjects of Corrodi's brush.