Adolf Senff

Carl Adolf Senff (17 March 1785, Halle - 21 March 1863, Ostrau) was a German painter in the Biedermeier style. His works are mostly portraits and still-lifes. Biography He was the thirteenth and youngest child of , a Consistorial Councilor at the Church of St. Moritz, and his wife, Rosina Dorothea née Litzmann. At first, he followed his father's wishes and attended the school at the Francke Foundations to study theology. After he had completed his studies, he worked as a teacher at a public school in Leipzig. There, he met the writer, , and showed him drawings he had made while studying. Leis was impressed and sent some to the artist, Gerhard von Kügelgen, of Dresden, whose children were attending school in Leipzig. As a result, he decided to pursue a career in art, even though he had already started the ordination process. By 1813, he was working as a freelance portrait painter, and soon began receiving commissions. In 1816, after a brief period as a volunteer in an infantry unit in France, he used some of his inheritance to travel; visiting Prague, Vienna and Florence before settling in Rome. He was able to find accommodations at the "Casa Buti", a home for artists whose residents included the famous sculptor, Bertel Thorvaldsen. They became friends, and Thorvaldsen helped introduce him into the artistic community of Rome. He would live there for thirty-two years.