A Life of Art and Mystery
Born in Paris, France, Adolphe Steinheil was a painter whose life was deeply intertwined with the artistic traditions of his family. He was the son of the painter Louis Steinheil, a restorer of stained glass for the Sainte-Chapelle and the Strasbourg Cathedral, and the nephew of the painter Ernest Meissonier. Steinheil’s own professional output was diverse; he earned his living through various artistic endeavors, including the creation of miniatures in the manner of Meissonier, the execution of mural paintings, and the restoration of stained glass in churches, following in his father's footsteps.
His personal life was marked by the notoriety of his wife, Marguerite Steinheil. Their residence in the Impasse Ronsin became a salon frequented by the elite of Paris. Through his wife's connections, Steinheil received official commissions, such as a monumental painting titled La Remise des décorations par le président de la République aux survivants de la catastrophe de la Redoute Ruinée (8 août 1897), which was exhibited at the Salon in 1898.
Artistic Works and Tragic End
The works of Adolphe Steinheil include several notable pieces held in various collections. His repertoire features:
The circumstances surrounding his death remain a subject of historical intrigue. On May 31, 1908, Steinheil was strangled during a robbery at his Paris home, an event known as the "crime of the Impasse Ronsin," which also claimed the life of his mother-in-law. While his wife was investigated and eventually acquitted of suspicion regarding the murders, the facts of the case were never fully elucidated. He was buried in the cemetery of L'Haÿ-les-Roses.
