MY GREAT GRAND-UNCLE

Son and pupil of painter Giuseppe Rieger (Vienna-Trieste 1802-1883)

A realist marine and landscape painter, he was influenced by the German artist Bernhard Fiedler (1816-1904).

Born in Trieste, at the age of four his family moved to the capital Vienna in 1838.

His work was exhibited at exhibitions in Munich and Paris and presented in important collections such as the Museum of Altenburg and in Wroclaw. Crown prince Rudolf purchased two of his landscapes "Am Traunsee" and "Gosausee". He was awarded both the Gold Austrian Medal and Great Golden Swedish-Norwegian Medal for his works.

At the height of his painting career in the latter half of the 19th century, he went into business with his younger brother Carl to switch instead to the newly emerging photography technology destined to replace realistic painting.