Fritz Feigler Paintings

Fritz Feigl, often misspelled as Fritz Feigler, was an Austrian-born chemist known for his contributions to analytical chemistry rather than an artist. Born on March 17, 1891, in Vienna, Austria, Feigl became one of the pioneers in the field of spot tests, a branch of analytical chemistry that involves applying small volumes of solutions to solid substrates to identify or quantify the presence of different substances.

Feigl initially studied chemistry at the University of Vienna, where he earned his doctorate in 1914. His work was interrupted by World War I, during which he served in the Austrian Army. After the war, he returned to academia and began to focus on the development of qualitative and quantitative microchemical techniques. His research led to the publication of his book 'Spot Tests in Organic Analysis' in 1937, which became a seminal work in the field and was later updated and republished in numerous editions and translations.

Fritz Feigl's career was significantly affected by the rise of the Nazi regime. Being Jewish, he fled Europe in the late 1930s to escape persecution. He first moved to Belgium and then to Brazil, where he continued his academic and research work at the University of Rio de Janeiro. In Brazil, Feigl contributed to the development of the chemical industry and became a naturalized Brazilian citizen.

Throughout his career, Feigl not only developed numerous analytical methods but also trained many students and researchers in the field of spot testing. His work had a lasting impact on the field of analytical chemistry, making complex chemical analyses more accessible and practical in a variety of settings, including forensics, environmental science, and medical diagnostics.

Fritz Feigl passed away on July 23, 1971, in Rio de Janeiro. While he was not an artist in the traditional sense, his legacy lives on through the countless chemists and scientists who utilize his techniques and through the advancement of analytical chemistry as a crucial scientific discipline.