Theodor Alt

The son of Döhlau's pastor, Alt received his earliest education from his parents, and later attended the Old Latin School in Regensburg, where his father was head of the Protestant community from 1856 to 1870.

In 1869, he joined with former classmates Wilhelm Leibl, Rudolf Hirth du Frênes and Johann Sperl to share a studio.

In 1873, he moved to Petersaurach to set up an independent studio, but the onset of mental illness three years later forced him to temporarily stop painting.

He produced very little work, however, as he was tormented by insomnia, hallucinations and violent impulses that led to several stays at the psychiatric hospital in Erlangen.

[citation needed] He remained there until his death at the age of 91, still producing the occasional watercolor of the local landscape.