Charles de Graimberg


Louis Charles François de Graimberg, also known as Carl de Graimberg, was a French curator, collector and artist.

Life

He was born in the château de Paars, son of Gilles-François de Graimberg de Belleau. He joined the École royale militaire at Rebais but emigrated with his family in May 1791. He fought in the War of the First Coalition in the Compagnie de la noblesse de Champagne and the Chasseurs Nobles de Damas, before becoming an officer in the Régiment de Mortemart. After leaving active service he and his family settled on Guernsey and travelled across Europe.
He had a passion for drawing and in 1807 settled in Paris, where he studied under Jean-Victor Bertin. In 1810 he went to Karlsruhe to study under Christian Haldenwang, Baden's court engraver. He settled at Heidelberg to draw the ruins of Heidelberg Castle, devoting the rest of his life to their protection and restoration, creating a series of engravings of them and convincing Leopold, Grand Duke of Baden to repair part of them. He also became a friend of Helmina von Chézy.

Works