August Friedrich Schenck

August Friedrich Albrecht Schenck (23 April 1828 – 1 January 1901) was a German painter. He was both French and German by nationality.

Schenk was born in Glückstadt. As a pupil of Léon Cogniet he moved to France. He became well known for his landscapes and paintings of animals. His works were first exhibited publicly in 1855. Anguish, perhaps his most famous painting, is an oil-on-canvas work showing a ewe grieving over the dead body of her lamb as they are encircled by black crows. It was acquired by the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne in 1880. In 1885 he became knight of the Legion of Honour. Schenk died in Écouen near Paris.

Biography
As a young man, Schenck left Glückstadt, which was then Danish, in order to earn a lucrative income as a "wine traveler" in Germany, Russia and finally Portugal. After five years he left Portugal for Paris, where he trained as a painter. He became a student of Léon Cogniet (1794-1880), professor at the École des Beaux-Arts and he settled permanently in France.

At the age of 27 he made his debut as a painter at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1855. In 1857 he took part in the Schleswig-Holstein anniversary exhibition. A successful creative period began. He was particularly famous for his pictures of animals. In addition to the French painter Rosa Bonheur (1822–1899), he was the most sought-after animal painter whose works were collected internationally.

Around 1862 he and his wife, who was born in Warsaw, Ludowika Stapaczinska, settled in the artist town of Écouen, about 20 km north of Paris. The École d’Écouen attracted well-known artists, including Charles-François Daubigny, Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot and Mary Cassatt. Schenck still leaves traces in Écouen today: the street Rue de la Beauvette, on which his property was located, was renamed Rue Auguste Schenck in 1906. His painting L’Échir hangs in the town hall, and his Lamb of God - Agnus dei, in the church.

Schenck was known nationwide during his lifetime. Major museums acquired his works. August Schenck died on January 1st, 1901. His grave in Écouen still exists, but his house and studio have gone.