Friedrich Ludwig Müller, Großhändler und Begründer des Döblinger Armenhauses 1828

This is a portrait of Friedrich Ludwig Müller, a wholesale merchant and founder of the Döbling poorhouse, painted by Friedrich von Amerling. Painted with oil on canvas, Amerling uses traditional artistic materials to depict a modern man of commerce and charity. Notice the smoothness of the brushwork, creating a dignified but approachable figure. The artist uses light and shadow to model form, showcasing the textures of Müller’s coat and the fur of his loyal dog. It's intriguing to see how the traditional skills of portraiture were deployed not only for aristocracy but also for the rising class of merchants and philanthropists. The amount of time involved in creating this level of detail reflects Müller's status and the value placed on his achievements. By focusing on the materiality and techniques of production, we can appreciate how this artwork blurs the boundaries between craft and fine art, and how it reflects the social values of its time.