Michael Zeno Diemer

(1867-1939)

"Man 'O' War off the Coast of Valparaiso"

Oil on canvas, signed

78 x 123 cm.

This fine oil shows an early 19th century three-deck Man 'O' War, which would have housed about 100-110 canon. There were a number conflicts between the British and American fleets in about 1812 and further clashes between Chile and Spain during Chile's fight for independence, 1817. Diemer is well known for his dramatic historical battle scenes, both on land and at sea. He was born in Munich and in 1884 won a scholarship to the Munich Akademie. He then visited the Swiss Italian border. In 1892 he completed the epic historical work 'Godtribunal', exhibited at Drontheim. In 1893 he collaborated with Hans Beatus Wieland on a series later shown at the Chicago International. During the late 1890's he travelled to Brazil and Chile which inspired 'The Battle of Santiago' (now in the Museum of Lucerne. His years 1902-1909 were also spent abroad. He toured Ireland, then crossed Europe to discover the Orient and returned to Munich in 1909.