The American Cyclopædia (1879)/Müller, Friedrich (painter)

Müller, Friedrich, a German painter and poet, born in Creuznach in 1750, died in Rome, April 23, 1825. He early devoted himself to painting and copperplate engraving, and in his 18th year published several collections of etchings, which attracted much attention from their originality. In 1776 he went to Rome, and studied the works of Michel Angelo; but his taste for the grotesque constantly increased and gave a fantastic character to his productions. He was chiefly known as a guide in Rome, where he was called Müller the painter. He succeeded better as an author than as an artist, writing idyls, romances, ballads, and dramas. His best drama is Niobe. A complete edition of his works has been published (3 vols., Heidelberg, 1811; 2d ed., 1825).