The New International Encyclopædia/Rugendas, Georg Philipp

RU'GENDAS, (1666-1742). A German battle and military genre painter and engraver, born at Augsburg. He was a pupil of Isaac (or Jacob) Fischer, an historical painter, took Bourguignon, Lembke, and Tempesta for his models, but formed his style more especially through the study of the various phases of the military profession, from real life. He continued his studies for two years in Vienna, and in 1692 under Molinari in Venice, thence went to Rome. During the siege and pillage of Augsburg in 1703 he exposed himself to great danger by drawing, in the midst of the engagements, the scenes around him. The six etchings resulting from this are perhaps the most meritorious part of his work. His oil paintings, spirited in drawing, but defective in coloring, may best be studied in the Brunswick Gallery, which contains nine battle-pieces by him. Consult the monograph by Count Stillfried (Berlin, 1879).