Albert Samuel Anker
(April
1, 1831
- July 16, 1910)
was a Swiss
painter and illustrator, noted for his portraits of children.
After taking early drawing lessons
with Louis Wallinger
between 1845
and 1848,
he studied theology,
beginning in 1851
in Berne and continuing at the university of Halle, Germany.
In Germany
he was inspired by the great art collections and in 1854
he convinced his father to consent to an artistic career,
upon which Albert moved to Paris
where he was in the studio of Charles Gleyre.
He married Anna Rüfli in 1864
and they had four children together: Louise, Marie, Maurice
and Cécile. The children appear in some of his paintings.
Many Swiss postage stamps
have incorporated Anker's work, particularly those semi-postal stamps
whose surcharge goes to youth charities.
