Martin Ferdinand Quadal (Czech name Martin Ferdinand Chvรกtal) was a painter and engraver of Moravian origin who worked in many art centers of Europe in the second half of the 18th century. He is known for his portraits, paintings of animals, especially horses and hunting dogs, and genre scenes; In the last period of his career, he became the painter of the Russian court.
He was born on 28 October 1736 in Mฤrovice nad Hanou, Moravia; His family later moved to the neighboring town of Nฤmฤice nad Hanou. He started his art education at the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts, then continued his education in Paris. It is recorded that he took lessons from Franรงois Boucher while he was in France around 1767.
A traveling court painter
Quadal's artistic life was filled with constant travel. He worked in England, Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany and Italy; The animal studies he made in Ireland were later included in the museum collections in Dublin. He returned to Vienna between 1787 and 1789, and in 1788 he met Emperor Alexander II. He painted Joseph with his nephew, Archduke Franz. Working with a neoclassical approach, the artist also frequently painted his own portraits.
In 1797, upon the invitation of Russian Tsar Paul I, St. He went to St. Petersburg and worked there as court painter until 1804, making portraits of the tsar's family and court circles. After a short break, St. He returned to St. Petersburg and remained there until the end of his life. He was elected as a member of many art academies in Europe.
Today, his works are found in collections such as the Louvre, the Hermitage and the Military History Museum in Vienna.
Quadal St. died in St. Petersburg; The date of death is given in different sources as 1808, 1809 and 1811.
