Towards the end of Karl Heinz Ritschel’s book about Theodor Kern there is a Kurzbiografie – a summary of the artist’s life, with key dates. I’ve used it as the basis of this timeline, to which I’ve added a few entries based on my own research:
1897 10 January: Friedl Frank born in Steinach, Bavaria
1900 10 July: Theodor Kern born in Morzg near Salzburg, Austria
21 July: Christl Engelhart born in Pritschitz, Carinthia, Austria
1913 – 16 Earliest surviving drawings
1918 Military service
1918 – 19 Studies at Academy of Arts in Vienna
1919 Cloos Rechenburg scholarship at Vienna Academy
1922 First prize at the Academy
1922 – 23 Guest student (sculpture) at Vienna School of Applied Arts
1923 Returns to Salzburg
Works with Anton Faistauer on frescoes in Morzg parish church
Participates in exhibition of Vienna Succession for first time
Member of the ‘Wasserman’ group of artists in Salzburg
First visit to Italy
1924 Travels to Italy with Faistauer
1926 Works with Faistauer on frescoes in Salzburg Festival House
Marriage to Christl Engelhart
1927- 38 Member of Hagenbund
1929 Death of Johann Kern, the artist’s father
1930 Spends time in Sicily
1930 – 31 Separation from Christl
1932 – 34 Living in England
1934 Death of Ottilie Kern, née Mohr, the artist’s mother
Relocates to Vienna: meets Dietrich von Hildebrand
1936 Extended stay at Hildebrand villa in Florence – paints Tuscan landscapes
1938 Emigration to England via Italy and Switzerland
1939 Friedl Frank arrives in England
1940 Internment on Isle of Man
1941 Voluntary work in Hertfordshire hospitals
1945 Moves to Bearton Green, Hitchin
1946 Marriage to Friedl Frank
1950 Begins work on Madonna cycle
Abstract period begins
1950 – 55 Tutor at Luton Art School
1956 – 69 Tutor / critic at Hitchin Art Club
1968 Retrospective exhibition, Luton Museum
1969 28 February: death of Theodor Kern
1980 24 March: death of Friedl Kern
1988 Death of Christl Engelhart
Theodor Kern 