Trained at the Imperial art academy in Vienna, Maulbertsch enjoyed a highly successful career in the Austro-Hungarian Empire during the 18th century. He produced works for castles and churches in present-day Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary.
Maulbertsch was admired for his swift, virtuoso working methods in creating frescoes and altarpieces, as well as small-scale independent works. In his atmospheric use of light and colour he is now recognised as the leading northern exponent of the tradition of Giovanni Battista Tiepolo.
