The Life and Training of Franz Tymmermann
Born in Hamburg, Germany, Franz Tymmermann was a painter of the early Renaissance. In 1538, the Hamburg Council sent him to Wittenberg for training under the painter and mayor of Wittenberg, Lucas Cranach the Elder. This apprenticeship was conducted under specific conditions: he was required to sign a written commitment stating that he could not settle anywhere other than Hamburg without the Council's knowledge and consent. By 1539, he sent a painting to the Council, and by 1541, his training appeared to be complete, as the Council provided funds for his return journey, clothing, and a painting. During this period, he was referred to in the city's accounting books as a painter of the Council.
Notable Works and Artistic Legacy
Tymmermann's documented works include several significant oil paintings on various wood supports. His 1534 work, The Decapitation of St. John the Baptist, is a notable piece currently held in the Bonnefanten Museum, Maastricht. Other works attributed to him or his period include:
His artistic presence in historical records fades after 1541, as no paintings dated after that year are known to have been produced by him.
