Wilhelm Hauschild, whose father was a master weaver, completed an apprenticeship with the
decorative painter Krachwitz in
Frankenstein. While traveling, he came to
Munich with a recommendation from the
Chiemgau painter Josef Holzmaier to the history painter Josef Schlotthauer, who recognized Hauschild's talent. After he had given him the necessary knowledge to attend the
Royal Academy of Art, Hauschild enrolled on April 10, 1850 for painting and became a student of
Philipp Foltz. On the recommendation of the painter
Wilhelm von Kaulbach, Hauschild received an order from the
Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm IV. After he had created eight large paintings for the historical gallery of the
Bavarian National Museum, he received further orders from the
Bavarian royal family. For
King Ludwig II he painted the ceiling pictures for the castles
Linderhof and
Herrenchiemsee. At Neuschwanstein Castle he was given the picturesque design of the throne room and the series of pictures from
Lohengrin,
Sigurd, and the
Gudrunsage. During this work, Hauschild fell off a scaffold. He suffered a broken shoulder and a severe concussion. He was also involved in the design of the wall and ceiling paintings for the royal building of the
Munich Residence. In 1854, he created a
Petrus altar for the
Church of St. Joseph in
Starnberg. Hauschild always remained connected to his
Silesian homeland. For the parish church of Schlegel he created three altarpieces. For the church on the Schlegler Allerheiligenberg he painted the frescoes and the paintings for the 16
Stations of the Cross. He created the paintings
Immaculate Conception and
St. Petersburg for the side altars of the
Lauban parish church, which was being decorated at the same time by his friend, the Munich architect Johann Marggraff. Hauschild was a member of the Munich Association for Christian Art and in 1883 became its chairman. In 1879, King Ludwig II awarded him the title of Royal Academy Professor. Hauschild received the gold medal for art and science for his achievements. A street is named after him in Munich's Obersendling district. == Literature ==