Oertel, Johannes Adam Simon

(Nov. 3, 1823-Dec. 9, 1909). Priest and artist. He was born in Furth, near Nuremberg, in Bavaria, Germany. Oertel studied art in Nuremberg and Munich and spent much of his time engraving until 1848, when he came to the United States. He lived in Newark and then Madison, New Jersey. In 1861 he moved to Westerly, Rhode Island. Oertel was ordained deacon on June 7, 1867, and priest on Aug. 13, 1871. He served a rural church near Lenoir, North Carolina, until 1876. He moved to Morganton, North Carolina, where he served a church for 18 months. He lived for various periods in Washington, D. C., Sewanee, Tennessee, Nashville, Tennessee, and St. Louis, Missouri. He taught art at the University of the South. In 1889-1891, he was instructor in fine arts at Washington University, St. Louis. Painting and ecclesiastical wood carving were his art forms. Among his more famous paintings are “The Dispensation of the Promise and the Law,” “Walk to Emmaus,” “The Walk to Gethsemane,” “Easter Morning,” “Magdalen at the Sepulchre,” “The Rock of Ages,” and “It Is Finished.” Many of his works are at the University of the South. Oertel died in Vienna, Virginia.