Count Berthold von Imhoff (January 14, 1868 – December 14, 1939), was an artist known for his religious

mural A mural is any piece of graphic artwork that is painted or applied directly to a wall, ceiling or other permanent substrate. Mural techniques include fresco, mosaic, graffiti and marouflage. Word mural in art The word ''mural'' is a Spani ...

s and paintings. Born in Germany in 1868, Imhoff immigrated to the United States with his family and settled in Reading, Pennsylvania, where he established a successful art and fresco business. He left Reading in 1914, and made his home and studio in the

St. Walburg, Saskatchewan St. Walburg is a town in west-central Saskatchewan's prairie region on Saskatchewan Highway 26. St. Walburg is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Frenchman Butte No. 501. The Bronson Provincial Forest is to the north. The community is na ...

area in Canada. From there he decorated churches in many rural villages of Saskatchewan and North Dakota as well as returning to Reading for commissioned work.

Early life

Imhoff was born in

Mannheim Mannheim (; Palatine German: or ), officially the University City of Mannheim (german: Universitätsstadt Mannheim), is the second-largest city in the German state of Baden-Württemberg after the state capital of Stuttgart, and Germany's ...

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

, to Count Leopold and Rosina (Allgeier) von Imhoff. At age 12, he started studying at various European art schools including Oberwinter, Halle-an-der-Halle, and the art institute at

Karlsruhe Karlsruhe ( , , ; South Franconian: ''Kallsruh'') is the third-largest city of the German state (''Land'') of Baden-Württemberg after its capital of Stuttgart and Mannheim, and the 22nd-largest city in the nation, with 308,436 inhabitants. ...

Baden Baden (; ) is a historical territory in South Germany, in earlier times on both sides of the Upper Rhine but since the Napoleonic Wars only East of the Rhine. History The margraves of Baden originated from the House of Zähringen. Baden i ...

. In 1884, Imhoff won the Art Academy Award of Berlin for his painting ''The Glory of Emperor Frederick''. $3000 was offered for the painting, but he refused, and the painting is now on display at the Lloydminster Cultural and Science Centre in

Lloydminster Lloydminster is a city in Canada which has the unusual geographic distinction of straddling the provincial border between Alberta and Saskatchewan. The city is incorporated by both provinces as a single city with a single municipal administrati ...

Saskatchewan Saskatchewan ( ; ) is a province in western Canada, bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, to the northeast by Nunavut, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dak ...

. At age 20, Imhoff began studying figure work at the art academy at Düsseldorf.

Life in North America

In 1891, Berthold Imhoff married Matilde Johner, the daughter of Joseph Johner, who was one of his teachers at

Bonndorf Bonndorf is a town in the Waldshut district in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated in the southern Black Forest, 14 km southeast of Titisee-Neustadt. It comprises the villages Boll, Brunnadern, Dillendorf, Ebnet, Gündelwangen, Ho ...

. Berthold Imhoff began to feel oppressed by European society, and decided to move to North America. His family settled in Reading, Pennsylvania where he established an art and fresco business. Imhoff's fame soon escalated as he travelled the eastern United States painting churches and homes of wealthy industrialists. As the eastern United States began to become an industrial powerhouse, Imhoff decided to move to Canada. Searching for a quiet, peaceful place to work on his art, Imhoff, Matilde, and six of his seven children moved to what is now

in 1914. Once in Saskatchewan, Imhoff started painting many of the small churches which dot the prairie landscape near his home, often for free or for very little pay. In 1926, Imhoff completed what some people consider his masterpiece: the cathedral in Reading, Pennsylvania. Many of the 226 life-sized paintings were started in his studio in Saskatchewan and then transported to Reading where they were then completed by him and his family. In 1937, he was awarded a Knighthood in the Pontifical

Order of St. Gregory the Great The Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great ( la, Ordo Sancti Gregorii Magni; it, Ordine di San Gregorio Magno) was established on 1 September 1831, by Pope Gregory XVI, seven months after his election as Pope. The order is one of ...

by Pope

Pius XI Pope Pius XI ( it, Pio XI), born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti (; 31 May 1857 – 10 February 1939), was head of the Catholic Church from 6 February 1922 to his death in February 1939. He was the first sovereign of Vatican City f ...

. He died in 1939 and is buried in the St. Walburg

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy * Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD * Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a let ...

Cemetery next to his wife Matilda. A life size equestrian statue honouring Imhoff by St. Walburg artist Susan Velder is located in the village. The Imhoff Gallery which includes his studio, home and farm is now a heritage site.

Works

Imhoff decorated over 90 churches. Examples of his work can be seen in churches at Carmel,

St. Benedict Benedict of Nursia ( la, Benedictus Nursiae; it, Benedetto da Norcia; 2 March AD 480 – 21 March AD 548) was an Christianity in Italy, Italian Christian monk, writer, and theologian who is venerated in the Catholic Church, the Eastern Ortho ...

Bruno Bruno may refer to: People and fictional characters *Bruno (name), including lists of people and fictional characters with either the given name or surname * Bruno, Duke of Saxony (died 880) * Bruno the Great (925–965), Archbishop of Cologne, ...

, Denzil, St. Leo,

North Battleford North Battleford is a city in west-central Saskatchewan, Canada. It is the seventh largest city in the province and is directly across the North Saskatchewan River from the Town of Battleford. Together, the two communities are known as "The Batt ...

and at the following locations.

Canada

*St. Walburg & District Historical Museum (Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church) *Imhoff Museum and Art Gallery near

*St. Peter's Cathedral in Muenster, Saskatchewan *Shrine of the Holy Rosary at Reward, Saskatchewan *Our Lady of Sorrows in Paradise Hill, Saskatchewan *Assumption Catholic Church in

Marysburg, Saskatchewan Marysburg is a hamlet in Saskatchewan located along Highway 756. The hamlet is an un-incorporated place within the Rural Municipality of Humboldt. It is located about north of Humboldt. History From January 1, 1904 until May 1, 1924 it wa ...

*Lloydminster Cultural and Science Centre

Lloydminster, Saskatchewan Lloydminster is a city in Canada which has the unusual geographic distinction of straddling the Provinces and territories of Canada, provincial border between Alberta and Saskatchewan. The city is incorporated by both provinces as a single city ...

*Sacred Heart Cathedral in

Prince Albert, Saskatchewan Prince Albert is the third-largest city in Saskatchewan, Canada, after Saskatoon and Regina. It is situated near the centre of the province on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River. The city is known as the "Gateway to the North" because ...

United States

*Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Karlsruhe, North Dakota *St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hague, North Dakota *Blessed Trinity Church (formerly the Holy Trinity of Krasna) near Strasburg, North Dakota *Sts. Peter & Paul Roman Catholic Church in Strasburg, North Dakota *First United Church of Christ in Reading, Pennsylvania *St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Reading, Pennsylvania *Church of the Most Blessed Sacrament Bally, Pennsylvania * St. Paul's United Church of Christ in

Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania Schaefferstown (Pennsylvania German: ''Schaefferschteddel'') is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Heidelberg Township, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 941 at the 2010 census. History S ...

*Salem United Church of Christ in

Oley Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania Oley Township is a township in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2010 census, the township had a population of 3,620. Oley Township was originally formed in 1740 as a part of Philadelphia County, before Berks County was forme ...

*Other works by Imhoff in the Reading, Pennsylvania area might still exist at the following locations. **St. John's Catholic Church at Pottsville **St. Mary's Catholic Church at York **German Catholic Church at Hazleton **Catholic Church at Williamsport **Trinity Lutheran Church, Reading **Lithuanian Catholic Church, Mahanoy City **Baptist Church, Reading **Spies's Union Church, Alsace township **Reformed Church, Hazleton **Lutheran Church, Myerstown **St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church, Reading

Videos

Prairie Churches immigrant church artistCount Berthold Von Imhoff Part 1Count Berthold Von Imhoff Part 2

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Imhoff, Berthold 19th-century German painters 19th-century male artists German male painters 20th-century German painters 20th-century male artists 19th-century Canadian painters Canadian male painters 20th-century Canadian painters Artists from Saskatchewan German emigrants to Canada German Roman Catholics Canadian Roman Catholics Knights of St. Gregory the Great 1868 births 1939 deaths Artists from Mannheim Muralists Catholic painters