Johann Friedrich Dietler

Johann Friedrich Dietler was born at Solothurn, in Switzerland, on February 4, 1804. He started painting in his father's workshop (who was also an artist), and was instructed in the rudiments of art by Charles Germann, a drawing-master also from Solothurn.

He distinguished himself as a portrait painter. He stayed in Paris from 1822 to 1833 to continue his training under Antoine-Jean Gros, and copied the Old Masters in the Louvre. He later worked under Léopold Robert in Venice, Italy in 1834-1835 and also spent some time in Geneva. He finally settled in Berne, where he died on May 4, 1874. He painted for the town of Solothurn 'The Burgomaster Wengi before the Cannon.'