Heinrich von Zügel

Heinrich Johann von Zügel (22 October 1850, Murrhardt – 30 January 1941, Munich)[1] was a German painter who specialized in pictures of farm and domestic animals, often posed with a human in a dramatic or humorous situation.

Two years later, he transferred to the Academy of Fine Arts Munich, but was not inspired by the teaching methods of Karl von Piloty and decided to work independently.

In the early 1880s, he was attracted to the rural scenery in the Dachau District and began to paint outdoors, placing his subjects in a broader landscape setting.

[1] He spent over forty years on a theme he called "Heavy Work" (mostly portrayals of horses and oxen plowing) and produced over 24 canvases, which give a detailed picture of his artistic development.

The city benefitted greatly from the modelling fees and the rentals he paid to use their animals, as well as the money his students spent on food and lodging.