Anton Raphael Mengs: a native of Ústí nad Labem who taught Francisco Goya

Anton Raphael Mengs, one of the most prominent artists in 18th century Europe was born in Ústí nad Labem. We take a closer look at his connection to this region.

In the first half of the 18th century, as Baroque was fading and Classicism began to spread across Europe from France, a son was born to Saxon court painter Ismael Mengs in Ústí nad Labem in northern Bohemia on March 12, 1728. This son, Anton Raphael, would inherit his father’s profession and significantly surpass him in fame. Václav Houfek, the director of the city museum, explains why:

Anton Raphael Mengs, 'Helios as the Personification of Noon'|Photo: Palace of Moncloa/Wikimedia Commons, public domain

“Anton Raphael Mengs is one of the most significant painters of European classicism in the 18th century. He was born in Ústí nad Labem on March 12, 1728. In 1741 he made his first journey to Rome. Ten years later, he became the court painter in Dresden, Saxony. Later, after another ten years, he worked in Madrid, Spain, and became one of the most distinguished portraitists and artists of his time.”

But how did it happen that Anton Raphael was born in Ústí and not in Dresden, where his father worked?

"His father, originally from Copenhagen, came from a family that was Jewish before converting to Christianity. He tried to establish himself as a court painter in Prague but faced difficulties legitimizing his marriage and, subsequently, the status of his children. As a result, he likely opted for an interesting solution: Ústí nad Labem, a small, relatively poor town not far from Dresden, was within a few hours' reach, weather permitting."

Ústí nad Labem|Photo: Ústí nad Labem City Archives

“Whenever his wife became pregnant, they traveled to Ústí nad Labem. There, they rented a house on what is now Mírové Square, where they stayed until his wife gave birth. When the time came, Ismael Mengs visited the then-mayor of Ústí nad Labem, gave him a gift for the city’s needs, and the mayor became the godfather of his children. He confirmed that they were born within the marriage and were properly baptized in the Roman Catholic faith at the church in Ústí nad Labem. Thus, not only Anton Raphael Mengs but also his brother and two sisters became natives of Ústí nad Labem. They stayed there only while waiting for the birth, and then the family returned to Dresden. The Mengs family’s connection to Ústí nad Labem practically ended there.”

Mírové Square in Ústí nad Labem, 1903|Photo: Brück & Sohn Kunstverlag Meißen, Wikimedia Commons, CC0 1.0 DEED

Nevertheless, even in adulthood, Anton Raphael Mengs needed to stay connected to Ústí nad Labem. As the descendant of a Jewish convert to Lutheranism living in predominantly Catholic southern Europe, he needed a certificate from Ústí confirming that he was born of a lawful marriage and baptized as a Catholic—something akin to a birth certificate or registry extract:

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"When Anton Raphael Mengs pursued his career in Spain, where he worked for the Spanish royal court, or in Rome, where he completed commissions for the papal court, he was required to provide proof that he was a practicing Catholic, born within wedlock. Our current archives contain documented letters sent to him from Spain, requesting such confirmation. These were essentially his birth certificate and proof of baptism. It was necessary to verify that everything was in order and that he was a legitimate child and a Catholic from birth. This confirmation indeed supported his painting career throughout his life."

Francisco Goya, self-portrait, 1815|Photo: Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando/Wikimedia Commons, public domain

During his two stays in Madrid at the invitation of King Charles III of Spain, Mengs created a ceiling fresco for the Banquet Hall of the Royal Palace. He also passed on his experience to local young talents, among whom was a certain Francisco Goya:

"When Mengs left Madrid for Rome, he recommended one of his disciples, Francisco Goya, as the most talented student and his successor, essentially appointing him as the chief court painter of the Royal Palace in Madrid."

So, it can be said that Ústí, through him, was figuratively connected with one of the greatest European celebrities of the 18th century, says Václav Houfek:

Václav Houfek|Photo: Jiří Preclík, Ústí nad Labem City Museum

"Certainly, during that time, Anton Raphael Mengs was one of the most prominent European celebrities associated with our region. The only personality who could be compared to him in terms of public recognition and fame was Giacomo Casanova. Although Casanova was not born in our region, he spent the last years of his life here and passed away here. So, Anton Raphael Mengs and Giacomo Casanova are the two most famous Europeans with connections to the Ústí region."

Yes, the world-renowned Venetian diplomat, spy, womanizer, and writer Giacomo Casanova is also connected with the Ústí region and spent his last years at the Duchcov Castle, where he also wrote his memoirs. But that’s a story for another time.