1) Why Henry Vianden and other immigrants left  Germany.

2) Why he is one of 19th century Wisconsin's most respected artists and teachers. 

3) How he influences artists today.

German Immigration to Wisconsin

            Of all the nations of Western Europe, Germany played the greatest role in the peopling of the United States.  The number of Germans crossing the Atlantic in search of new homes, new opportunities, and new freedom was most dramatic in the years 1820 to 1910 when nearly 5.5 million people from many nations arrived in the U.S.

            The first wave of 939,000 Germans came to the United States from 1845-1855.  Most of these German newcomers settled in the north-central states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, North and South Dakota and Wisconsin.  By 1900 there were 710,000 German born citizens in Wisconsin out of a total population of 2,000,000.

            It is believed that problems with the German government in 1848 were responsible for mass migration to America.  A large number of immigrants were free thinkers or political refugees. Their hopes for reform and a new democratic government in Germany were dashed when the revolutions of 1848 and 1849 were put down throughout Europe. Many of these political refugees settled in Milwaukee and later played an important role in politics.

In addition, repeated crop failures and the potato blight in conjunction with heavily mortgaged farms caused many farmers to emigrate to the U.S. German farmers made up a sizable and stable rural population.

Most churches were German Catholic and Lutheran.  Germans had become a part of Wisconsin’s industrial and commercial life.  German cultural societies and musical groups flourished in many communities.

Milwaukee was known as the “German Athens” with its professional theaters and active literary life.  During the later part of the 19^th century, the German immigrant community was about 1/3 of Milwaukee’s population.  For at least a century the Milwaukee Art Scene was dominated by Germanic influences.  Most of the better known local artists had been born and received their training in Germany.  Many of the American born artists at the beginning of the 20^th century came from German speaking families and went to German Academies for more art training.

            The first university trained artist to settle in Milwaukee was Henry Vianden in 1849.  Vianden is best known for his landscape paintings of Wisconsin woodlands.  During the long time he lived in Milwaukee he taught and influenced an entire generation of local artists.

Helpful Hints:

1.  There are hidden links in each of the Marr paintings as follows:

Das Lied - The book on the piano.

Silent Devotion - The book on the table.

French Kirchen - The book on the table.

John Marr - Father - The article on the table.

Christmas Eve - The article on the table.

2.  While several paintings are shown in the virtual tour, only four paintings link to additional information.