Biografie von Richard PETRI (1823-1858)

Birth place: Dresden, Germany

Death place: either Fredericksburg or( Austin, 1858)

Addresses: Texas

Profession: Portrait, figure, and genre painter

Studied: Dresden Academy, 1838-44 with Richter and Hübner

Comments: Following his involvement in the 1848 Revolution, he and his brother-in-law Hermann Lungkwitz (see entry) came to America as political exiles in 1850, stopping briefly at West Virginia and then joining the German colony at New Braunfels (TX) in 1851 to suit Petri's health. While there Petri painted portraits using crayon, watercolor, and tempera. The Petri and Lungkwitz families moved to Fredericksburg (TX) in 1854 and Petri continued to make portraits, focusing on individuals from local tribes whom he befriended. He also painted genre scenes picturing his fellow settlers. He drowned at the age of 34. Also appears as Petrie.

Sources: G&W; "Texas in Pictures," 456 (repros.); Gideon, "Two Pioneer Artists of Texas." More recently see P&H Samuels, 296 and 370.