German painter. At the beginning of the 19th century Germany lagged behind the rest of Europe in the development of painting and sculpture. Cornelius was responsible for founding a great art school, reviving mural painting, and turning the gaze of the art world towards Munich. He traveled to Rome, where he joined the German Nazarene group. Cornelius believed that art should express noble ideals, and he disdained to work from nature. His favorite themes were religious or philosophical.