The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-10
ADOLF MENZEL, PAINTER, DEAD
BEST KNOWN FOR HIS STUDIES
OF FREDERICK THE GREAT.
One OF Germany's Foremost Artists Passes
Away in Berlin in His Doth Year
Noted for His skill in Many Mediums
-Honored by the Present Kaiser.
sp,dai ca9lt Dfspafea 10 THE suS.

Special Cable Despatch 10 THE Sun.
BERLIN, Feb. 9--Adolf Mcneil, the
painter, died to-day, in his ninetieth year.
Adolf Friedrich Erdmann Mcneil, born in
Breslau the year Of Waterloo. was con
sidered. by many the greatest painter and
draughtsman that Germany produced IN
the nineteenth century, and in some re-
spects the master of all Europe. In bis
own country his greatest fame came from
his exhaustive studies of the life and times
of Frederick the Great and portraits of
the Autocrat Of Potsdam. Frederick and
his companions at the Round Table OF
Sans Souc. Frederick playing the flute,
Frederick at the battle OF Hoohkirk and at
Rheinsberg, Frederick in youth and old
age, all executed with marvellous fidelity
to history, are works Of Mcneil that his
own countrymen know best.
His father was principal of a girls school,
and obi ected TO his son becoming an artist,
but Menze's talent at Is was so marked
that he gave up school and became a
photographer. Two years later his father
died and the boy found himself the sup
port OF family. He worked night and
day at anything that came TO his hand,
vignettes, programmes. labels, cards.
In 1893 n series OF ten drawings in
pen and ink illustrating Goethes poem
-Kunstler's Erdenwallen' attracted wide
attention. or his other efforts in lithog-
raphy. the Essays on Stone With Brush
and Soraper,- in which he produced effects
resembling mezzodnting, we-s. novel
line Of work. In which for long time he
had no imitator or rival,
Mcneil began his studies Of Frederick
the Great in 1899, md his powers developed
with rapidity. He illustrated history OF
the reign OF Frederick, work with 400
drawings, and the task took him three years.
At the end OF that time he found himself
famous. OF his work in oil descriptive
of Frederick the Great, perhaps the best
known is his Sans Soucl windmill, with the
lean, slightly bent figure OF the monarch
and his two attendants walking behind a
terrace balustrade. At the National Gal
lery in Berlin are The Round Table of
Frederick. 1850, "A Flute Concert at Sans
Souci- and A Modern Cyclops.-
His photographic drawing OF Christ
Among the Doctors" which scandaized
BCrlners in 1852. although it fascinated by
Hebrew types, is considered one Of his most
noteworthy achievements. Master Of water
colors, oils, pencil or pen working according
TO his fancy or with particular end In view
ne produced later and at about the samo
period his Fight With Dragon. a study
OF an audience at passion play. aquarelles
now and then historical study. delicate
traoeries for presentation to royal Prin-
cess. the Procession Of the Host at Hof
Gastein.' Sunday in the Tuileries Gar
dens.' King Williams Coronation and
THE Court Ball supper"
Although Men eel touched lightly on the
Napoleonic era, his picture Of Bluoher and
Wellington at the Battle OF Waterloo. pro-
duced IN 1883 takes rank With the most
notable o! his works.
OF this work Mcneil once said: Il doubt
II the meeting ever took place in the manner
commonly reported, for after a long day :
fighting / am sure that both Butcher and
Wellin gton had no stomach for theatrical
tableau. but must have been very anxious
for good supper and a nights lodging
This sort OF unromantic franknese was
quite illustrative OF the honesty and free
dom from sham of the man. He hated
tricks and detested crowds and functions.
he was happiest when studying street
life, and his albums wen filled with these
types Of Berlin, constituting q panorama
Of German life for several generations.
The present Kaiser held him IN high re-