A Life in Art and Portraiture
Alexandra von Berckholtz was a German-Baltic painter born in Riga, Latvia. Her early life involved traveling through Europe with her family before settling in Baden. She grew up in Karlsruhe and at Schloss Ortenberg near Offenburg, where her father, Baron Gabriel Leonhard von Berckholtz, oversaw the reconstruction of the estate. Seeking formal training, she studied under several masters, including Louis Wagner in Karlsruhe, Joseph-Nicolas Robert-Fleury in Paris, and Richard Lauchert in Karlsruhe. Her artistic education also included instruction from Sándor Liezen-Mayer, Ludwig Adam Kunz, Ludwig des Coudres, and Hans Canon.
In 1865, she moved to Munich, where she established her presence in the art world. Her work primarily focused on portraits and still lifes, often capturing representative members of society and family members, with a particular emphasis on portraits of women. Beyond her portraiture, she produced still lifes in oil and tempera, as well as numerous pastels and watercolors. In 1880, she contributed to the St. Petri-Kirche in Riga by donating a stained glass painting of Christ on the Cross.
Notable Works and Exhibitions
Throughout her career, von Berckholtz exhibited her work in various prestigious settings, including the International Art Exhibitions in Munich and the Great Berlin Art Exhibition. Her still life subjects included a variety of natural elements such as:
Her portraiture collection is extensive, featuring subjects such as Freifrau Amalie von Brück, Johanna Gräfin von Enzenberg, and Alexandra von Bodman. She also painted several members of her own family, including her mother, Barbara von Berckholtz, and her sister, Elisabeth von Offensandt.
