Eduard Gurk

Eduard Gurk (17 November 1801 – 31 March 1841) was an Austrian landscape painter and printmaker, who worked for the Habsburg Court under the Emperors Francis I and Ferdinand I.

His father was Joseph Ignaz Gurk (1773–1835), a painter who served as head of the art gallery and library of Nikolaus II, Prince Esterházy.

[2] This attracted attention in high places, and he was soon being sponsored by Klemens von Metternich, who found him employment as chief assistant to the court painter, Johann Baptist Hoechle (1754–1832).

In 1835, Ferdinand became Emperor and Hoechle died unexpectedly, after having been court painter for only two years, so Gurk was appointed to replace him.

Disembarking at Beirut, he continued down the coast, documenting the exploits of Archduke Friedrich, who had recently been awarded the Military Order of Maria Theresa.