Identity:

Carl Haag was a German painter who was active in Britain.

Life:

Haag studied in Nurnberg and Munich. He came to England in 1847. Influenced by the English watercolourists, Haag developed a method of watercolour painting which he felt attained the vibrancy of painting in oils. From 1850 he exhibited at the Society of Painters in Water-Colours and was elected a full member in 1853. In 1853 he was commissioned by Queen Victoria to paint two large watercolours of their deerstalking expeditions at Balmoral. His watercolours of the 1860s showing scenes from Eastern life, inspired by his travels in North Africa and the Holy Lands, brought him much popularity.

Haag was also a founder member of The Arts Club in 1863 and retained his membership until 1875. He was elected a member of the Society of British Artists in 1882, a society which elected Whistler its President in June 1886.

Bibliography:

Phipps-Jackson, M., 'Cairo in London: Carl Haag's Studio', Art Journal, 1883, pp. 71-75; The Works of Mr. Carl Haag, exhibition catalogue, Goupil Galleries, London, 1885; Roget, J. L., A History of the Old Water-Colour Society, London, 1891; Bénézit, E., Dictionnaire des Peintres, Sculpteurs, Dessinateurs et Graveurs, 8 vols, Paris, 1956-61; Walkley, Giles, Artists' houses in London 1764-1914, Aldershot, 1994; Llewellyn, Briony, 'Carl Haag', The Grove Dictionary of Art Online, ed. L. Macy, http://www.groveart.com (accessed 21 March 2002).