Franz Bischoff
1864 – 1929
Franz Bischoff was Austrian-born American painter, known primarily for his beautiful still life and California landscapes in post-impressionist manner. He was a leading Southern California plain-air landscape painter of the early 20th century. Bischoff was also known as “King of the Rose Painters,” one of the most respected ceramic decorators of his time.
Franz Bischoff was born in Bomen, Austria. He had early training at a craft school and in 1882 went to Vienna for study in painting and porcelain decoration. He arrived in New York City in 1885 and took a job as a painter in a ceramic factory. Following that, he worked as a ceramic decorator in a variety of places including Pittsburgh; Fostoria, Ohio; and Dearborn, Michigan. In New York and Detroit, he founded the Bischoff School of Ceramic Art and developed the formula for many of his own colored glazes.
In 1900, he first visited California and shortly after settled in Los Angeles. In 1908, he built his studio home with gallery, ceramic workshop, and painting studio, along the Arroyo Seco in South Pasadena. In 1912, he spent extended time in Europe and was influenced both by the Impressionists and the Old Masters.
Living in California, he devoted much time to landscape painting and painted in Monterey, Laguna Beach, the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and the desert near Palm Springs. In 1928, he went to Utah and painted in Zion National Park with his friend, John Christopher Smith. By this time, his style was regarded as post-impressionist with expressive use of color and highlighting. He was recognized during his career for use of color and vivid composition. His paintings always displayed reverence for nature. One critic commented that some of his later works flirted with Expressionism and his use of colors were reminiscent of Fauvism.
He was a member of the California Art Club and the Laguna Beach Art Association. His ceramics were exhibited at the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago and at the 1904 Exposition in St. Louis.
Franz Bischoff died in his adopted city of Pasadena, California on February 5, 1929.
