Franz E. Rohrbeck Explained

Franz Edward Rohrbeck (1852–1919), often referred to as Franz E. Rohrbeck, was an American artist, of Milwaukee, known for his murals in courthouses and other government buildings.

He was born in Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia. He graduated from the Berlin Art Academy and emigrated from Germany to the United States in 1885.^[1]

He became a muralist at some point, having "worked as a panoramic painter in San Francisco" and having done some painting for the 1893 World Columbian Exposition.

He painted murals in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Michigan. He is probably most known for his large mural, "The Spirit and Strength of Wisconsin," at the Wisconsin State Capitol.

Works include:

• Two 8feet by 10feet mural paintings in the second floor courtroom at Green County Courthouse^[1]
• Six murals at Martin County Courthouse (Fairmont, Minnesota) (designed by Charles E. Bell, built 1906–07)^[2]
• Four murals on four spandrels under the dome of Grant County Courthouse (Lancaster, Wisconsin) (1905)^{[3] [4]}
• Mural "The Spirit and Strength of Wisconsin" in the Wisconsin State Capitol, in Madison, Wisconsin^[1]
• Mural(s) at Brown County Courthouse (designed by Charles E. Bell) in Green Bay, Wisconsin^[1]
• Mural(s) at Manitowoc County Courthouse (designed by German-born Christ H. Tegen, built in 1906^[5]) in Manitowoc, Wisconsin^[1]

In at least two cases, it was architect Charles E. Bell who designed the county courthouse. Bell was a prolific architect of courthouses.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Dean. Jeff. [{{NRHP url|id=78000097}} National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Green County Courthouse]. National Park Service. July 4, 2016. September 29, 1977. .
2. Web site: [{{NRHP url|id=77000755}} National Register of Historic Places Registration: Martin County Courthouse ]. National Park Service. 2016-07-04. Charles W. Nelson and Susan Zeik . August 26, 1976. with
3. Web site: Grant County Courthouse. Wisconsin Historical Society. 2016-06-11.
4. News: Dean. Jeff. [{{NRHP url|id=78000096}} National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Grant County Courthouse]. 2016-06-11. National Park Service. 1978-02-08.
5. Web site: [{{NRHP url|id=81000047}} National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Manitowoc County Courthouse]. National Park Service.