Sebastian Stoskopff (1597–1657)

• Was an Alsatian painter. 
• Sebastian Stoskopff was born in 1597 in Strasbourg.
• Stoskopf was sent at first to the Strasbourg painter and copper engraver, Friedrich Brentel.
• In 1615, Stoskopff's father died and Stoskopff was then sent to Daniel Soreau, a painter who was active in Hanau.
• After Soreau's death in 1619, Stoskopff took over his workshop with the apprentices, as well as his function as the master.
• One of the apprentices was Joachim von Sandrart.
• Joachim von Sandrart became a successful painter and who wrote the first important work on the history of art in the German language: "Teutsche Academie der Bau-, Bild,- und Malerey- Künste".
• This work contains descriptions of the lives of earlier and contemporary artists, including descriptions of the time in Hanau with his master, Sebastian Stoskopff.
• After his attempt to get permission to settle in Frankfurt failed, Stoskopff went to Paris. 

• He stayed there from about 1622 until 1639.

• Stoskopff returned to Strasbourg in 1639.

• One year later, he joined the guild of Steltz, to which other painters, copper engravers and craftsmen in the arts belonged.

• He achieved wealth and prestige in Strasbourg and married the stepdaughter of his youngest sister in 1646. 

• Sebastian Stoskopff died in 1657 at the age of 60 in a public house in Idstein.

• He was reportedly supposed to have died because of drinking too much alcohol. 

• Nearly 20 years later, Stoskopff's murder became clear during an indictment for witchcraft, in which the owner of the public house and a woman were involved. 

• The owner had killed Stoskopff out of greed.

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