August Kopisch

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He was born at Breslau. In 1815 he began studying painting at the Prague academy, but an injury to his hand damaged his prospects of success as an artist, and he turned to literature. After residences in Dresden and Vienna Kopisch proceeded, in 1822, to Italy, where, at Naples, he became close friends with the poet August von Platen-Hallermünde. Kopisch was an expert swimmer, which led to him, in company with Ernst Fries, discovering the "Blue Grotto" of Capri. In 1828 he settled at Berlin and was granted a pension by Frederick William IV of Prussia, who in 1838 conferred upon him the title of professor. He died at Berlin.

Kopisch produced some very original poetry, light in language and in form. He specialised in re-telling legends and popular subjects, and among his "Gedichte" (Berlin, 1836) are some naïve and humorous little pieces such as "Die Historie von Noah", "Die Heinzelmännchen", "Das grüne Tier" and "Der Schneiderjunge von Krippstedt", which became widely popular. He also published a translation of Dante's "Divine Comedy" (Berlin, 1840), and under the title "Agrumi" (Berlin, 1838) a collection of translations of Italian folk songs.

Kopisch's collected works were published in 5 vols. (Berlin, 1856)

References

*1911

External links

* [http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/c/collins/index.html Kopisch at Web Gallery of Art]