Paul Peterich
Paul Friedrich Gustav Peterich, born Petersen (1 February 1864, Bad Schwartau - 22 September 1937, Rotterdam) was a German sculptor. Life and work His father, Jasper Hinrich Petersen (1833–1920), was originally from Bad Bramstedt and worked as a journeyman turner. When his employer died in 1861, Petersen married his widow, Magdalena Margarete (1829–1905). He eventually became a Master turner, and a member of the City Council. They had three sons. Paul, their second, learned the woodworking trade; including turnery. He later attended the Kunstgewerbeschule in Lübeck, where he was exposed to art for the first time, and was inspired to pursue it further. In 1884, Peter II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg, an expert on art, saw one of Peterich's student pieces and provided a scholarship that enabled him to attend the Berlin University of the Arts. There, he finished in the master class taught by Fritz Schaper. During his studies, in 1887, he entered a competition to design a monument for the composer Carl Maria von Weber, and won. It was inaugurated in 1890, and launched his career. His next major commission was a monument to ] and , Stadtholders of Schleswig-Holstein during the First Schleswig War. It was inaugurated