Arnold Böcklin (1827-1901) was a Swiss painter from a silk merchant family who painted in the style of symbolism. He studied art in Düsseldorf and Brussels, Rome, Geneva and Zurich. His work depicts mythological themes and allegorical scenes. From this period dates the painting Sleeping Diana Watched by Two Fauns. During his second visit to Rome, he married the daughter of one of the Pope’s guards. However, they were forced to flee from the cholera epidemic to the Swiss city Höttingen. His paintings, like Self-Portrait with Death, have an overwhelming impact on human emotions. He became a great inspiration to many famous artists such as Salvator Dali. He influenced many artists from the art movements of Expressionism, Symbolism, or Secession. His most famous painting was the Isle of the Dead, which he painted in five versions. His paintings have served as inspiration for the composer Rachmaninov. Among his major collectors was Adolf Hitler, who owned 11 of his paintings. Böcklin died in the Florentine city Fiestole.