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Ernst Deger Paintings: The 3 Most Famous, Through a Gallery's Eye
Updated November 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 3 works by Ernst Deger in our catalogue
In short
To the gallery's eye, Ernst Deger's most famous painting is Portrait of a Young Woman (1835), whose original hangs in the Städel Museum, Frankfurt. The Risen Christ (1845) and Madonna with the Slumbering Child (1836) complete the trio every eye recognises. Of the 3 works by Ernst Deger in our catalog, the gallery presents the 3 most famous below, each original with its year, its museum and what makes it unique.
1809 – 1885, Bockenem
Most works: Alte Nationalgalerie
The gallery's top 10 Ernst Deger paintings
The museums that keep Ernst Deger's originals
The 2 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by Ernst Deger | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 Alte Nationalgalerie |
Berlin | 2 | The Risen Christ, Madonna with the Slumbering Child |
 Städel Museum |
Frankfurt | 1 | Portrait of a Young Woman |
Ernst Deger, the signature paintings of each year
Some ten years, from 1835 to 1845, were enough for Ernst Deger: the gallery walks through them year by year, one famous original after another.
Works per year
Pick a year to see its originals.
Ernst Deger's paintings: the gallery answers
Which Ernst Deger painting is the most famous of all?Reveal the answer
Portrait of a Young Woman (1835), Städel Museum, Frankfurt. The Risen Christ (1845) and Madonna with the Slumbering Child (1836) come next.
How old was Ernst Deger on completing Portrait of a Young Woman?Reveal the answer
26 years old: Portrait of a Young Woman dates from 1835, and Ernst Deger was born in 1809.
How many works did Ernst Deger create?Reveal the answer
Our catalog holds 3 works by Ernst Deger, dated from 1835 to 1845.
Where do Ernst Deger's most famous originals hang?Reveal the answer
Mostly in Alte Nationalgalerie (Berlin) and Städel Museum (Frankfurt). The museum table above lists them all.
Which are Ernst Deger's earliest and latest famous works?Reveal the answer
On this page, the earliest is Portrait of a Young Woman (1835) and the latest The Risen Christ (1845).
Which Ernst Deger originals does the Alte Nationalgalerie hold?Reveal the answer
The Risen Christ and Madonna with the Slumbering Child: the Alte Nationalgalerie, Berlin holds 2 of the works on this page.
Ernst Deger: the artist
A Devotion to the Sacred
Born in Bockenem, Germany, in 1809, Ernst Deger lived a life defined by a profound religious conviction that found its expression through the brush. His early training began at the Berlin Art Academy under Professor Wach, but it was his move to the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf that truly shaped his artistic trajectory. Under the guidance of Wilhelm von Schadow, Deger embraced the principles of the Düsseldorf School, a movement that would become the foundation of his career. He did not merely paint religious subjects; he lived within them, seeking to capture what he believed and hoped through a style characterized by serene compositions and precise, careful drawing.
The years between 1837 and 1842 were formative, as Deger traveled through Italy, absorbing the influence of the old masters in Rome and Florence. This period of study allowed him to refine a technique that favored harmonious coloring and a vigorous, direct approach to his subjects. He emerged from these travels not just as a student of history, but as a leading figure of the Nazarene movement, bringing a renewed sense of spiritual clarity to German Christian art.
The Weight of Commission and Craft
Deger’s career was marked by significant architectural and ecclesiastical undertakings that required immense patience and technical skill. One of his most notable achievements involved the frescoes at the Saint Apollinaris Church in Remagen. This project, which occupied him for eight years, demanded a mastery of large-scale narrative painting to depict scenes from the life of Christ. His ability to manage such expansive works was matched by his success in smaller, more intimate formats.
His work at Stolzenfels Castle, commissioned by King Frederick William IV of Prussia, remains a significant point in his professional development. Tasked with creating twelve wall paintings illustrating the redemption of mankind, Deger worked alongside assistants like Peter Molitor to complete this monumental series. While much of his fame rested on these large-scale religious cycles, he also found success with easel paintings. His Regina Coeli and Madonna 'mid the Green demonstrated a capacity for creating devotional images that were widely distributed through reproductions, reaching far beyond the walls of a single chapel.
A Legacy in the Academy
As his career matured, Deger transitioned from the role of a wandering student to that of an influential educator. In 1860, he began teaching at his alma mater, the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, eventually being appointed Professor of religious history painting in 1869. His pedagogical influence extended into Munich, where he served as a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts. Through his instruction, he guided students such as Franz Paul Massau and Friedrich Stummel, passing on the disciplined traditions of the Düsseldorf School.
Deger’s contribution to art was characterized by an effort to strip away the excesses of the Baroque style in favor of a more poetic and lofty sincerity. He remained a member of the Berlin Academy of Fine Arts until his death in Düsseldorf in 1885. His life's work, ranging from the etched line to the expansive fresco, remains anchored in the pursuit of a pure, religious aesthetic.