Joseph Karl Stieler: The Bavarian Court Painter Joseph Karl Stieler (1781-1858) stands as a pivotal figure in 19th-century German art, primarily recognized for his prolific output of neoclassical portraits commissioned by the Bavarian monarchy. Born in Mainz to a family steeped in engraving and printmaking traditions—his father, August Friedrich Stieler, was himself a respected engraver—Stieler’s artistic journey began with foundational training under his father's tutelage before embarking on an autodidactic apprenticeship that honed his skills as a miniature painter. This early experience i…