Extract from a 1970 publication about artists in Sibiu around 1850 by Dr Julius Bieltz, translated to English by Francine Barley.

Clara Adelheid was born on 5th November 1822, the second child of Johann Michael S.v.S the younger and his second wife Johanna Justine S.v.S. They lived in Sibiu (Hermannstadt) in Transylvania, Romania. Clara, who had artistic talent frequented the Brukenthal Art Gallery where she could study further, here she met the aspiring artist Theodor Sockl who was teaching students there. After much reluctance by her widowed mother, Theodor was allowed to paint Clara, this portrait was done in 1847.

Clara and Theodor then started to live together out of wed-lock, much to the displeasure of her mother and the rest of the family, at the time they all considered her the black sheep of the family. But despite resistance from the family, who had doubts about giving consent to marriage due to Theodor's insecure position and also because of his religious and status differences, the banns were called from 16 – 20 June in the Protestant church in Hermannstadt (Sibiu) and the couple were married on 12th August 1847 in Mehadia.

They then left Transylvania and settled down in Graz, Austria where, on 8 June 1848 their eldest son, Victor Franz Theodor was born. They then moved to Vienna where their 2nd son Theodor Friedrich Adolf was born on 18th November 1849, he though sadly died on 30th April 1850.

After this, in the summer of 1850, the family of three returned to Hermannstadt (Sibiu) where they took up residence in the Soterius house ‘zu den Steinernen Jungfrauen’ at 110 Fleischergasse (now Metropolei St Sibiu). Here they had a daughter, Ottilie Clara Sophie born on 3rd September 1851, as well as being a mother, Clara would give lessons in painting and drawing.

Her husband had also become a photographer, in spring 1854 they set up a photographic studio in Hermannstadt (Sibiu), Clare would colour in some of the photographs as was the fashion of this developing form. One of the coloured photographs of the seaside resort of Borsec from 1855 has survived (at the time of this publication 1970).

The photography meant they moved around a lot, for a time they lived in Orovnica in the Hungarian Banat where on 18th April 1857 another son, Carl Franz Albert was born, they also lived in Orşova on the Danube in south west Romania.P

Finally the family moved to Vienna, Austria, where they arrived on 28th October 1857. Where they first lived is not known, but in October 1859 the family moved into a flat in Fünfhaus, Hauptstraße No. 231, where they also set up a photographic studio, Clara again gave painting and drawing lessons.

Clara, who was suffering from a lung complaint, died on 25 July 1861 aged 38. A few months later on 25th December Theodor aged 46, followed her to the grave and was buried in the Schmelzer cemetery.

To cover the funeral costs Theodor’s brother Moritz sold the paintings that were left including hundreds of studies to a Viennese junk dealer. A tragic, but at the time, characteristic painter’s fate.

In a letter from Theodor Glatz the Transylvanian 'People's Friend' to Anton Kurz from 16 May 1847, he effusively praises the talent of the pupil Clara Adelheid Soterius von Sachsenheim. He is not alone in his admiration he attributes to the young girl, the expressive portraits from 1853 reveal a noteworthy talent for characterisation.

In addition two other paintings by her are known (at the time of the publication 1970) – a lifesize, oil on canvas, half-length portrait of the Hermannstadt doctor Gottfried Teilmann, and a small half-length portrait of the later (Tafelrichter) Adolf Spech. One of her delightful works, a series of 20 portraits of Transylvanian nobles was sent from Transylvania to the family of Carl Sockl when he's emigrated to England but these are now lost. (end of translation)

As you have read the article by Dr. Julius Bielz 1970 has been extremely informative and has filled in large gaps in our knowledge of Clara and her husband Theodor Sockl.

Their son Carl came to live in London with his wife Emma and their first two sons in 1889/90. Victor also came to London at the same time, he set up and ran a successful greetings card company called 'Sockl and Nathan' Carl worked as the accountant. Ottilie became a teacher and lived in Switzerland.

Link to exhibition at the District Museum, Brasov, Romania

Link to museum in Munich that specialises in the Siebenbuerger area.

Link to the Gundelsheim Museum Germany.