Maximilian PIRNER ✿

Maximilian Pirner (Sušice, 13 February 1853 – Prague, 2 April 1924) was a Czech painter, illustrator and draftsman of the period of academicism and symbolism, a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague. His works fall within the scope of Symbolist painting and Art Nouveau.

He was enrolled from 1872 to 1874 at the Academy of Fine Arts, Prague and from 1875 to 1879 at the Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna, where he studied with his countryman, Josef Matyáš Trenkwald. He remained in Vienna until 1887, although he was not an active participant in the local artistic community. At that time, he became a teacher at the Academy in Prague and was named a Professor there in 1896.

Pirner's usual themes were classical mythology (such as his Medusa (1891) and Hecate (or Hekate) (1901)) and the macabre (such as Sleepwalker (or Girl in Her Nightie Walks on the Window-Ledge) (1878), Daemon Love (1893), and Allegory of Death (1895)). Pirner completed a number of sketches of female figures. He also did stained glass windows and medals.