In 1889, the year of Adolf Hitler’s birth, Franz von Stuck painted “The Wild Chase”, which depicts Wotan (major god of Germanic polytheism) on horseback leading a procession of the dead. The painting has become infamous for its disturbing resemblance to Hitler.
It’s said Adolf Hitler saw this painting at thirteen and he was fascinated by Wotan, and later had this painting taken from the museum and placed in a special gallery.
Franz von Stuck was Hitler’s favorite painter from childhood on and the art of Franz von Stuck dominated Hitler’s childhood imagery (according to Robert Waite’s book The Psychopathic God: Adolph Hitler).
Robert Waite wrote: “Hitler was said to have copied his mustache, hair style, and oratorical style from the painting.”