Melchior Lechter

1865 – 1937

German painter, book illustrator and applied art artist. Lechter studied glass painting in Mnster and, from 1883 to 1895, attended the Academy of Art in Berlin. In 1895, he was introduced to Stefan George (1886-1968), who from now until 1907 commissioned him with the illustration of his books. In 1896 his first exhibition was staged at Gurlitt's gallery and, in 1899, he was commissioned to design the wall decorations for the Pallenberg Hall in the Cologne Museum of Arts and Crafts (completed in 1902). Lechter, whose work is influenced by William Morris and the Pre-Raphaelites, mixed Jugendstil elements with mysterious symbols from George's works. Alongside book illustrations and interior decors, he produced designs for glass paintings and executed drawings and pastels.

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