Heinrich Knirr was the only painter to get Hitler as a model. Probably couldn't get him to vogue, though.

Heinrich Knirr is kind of an international man of mystery. Being Hitler's number one painter might seem like a good way for history to bookmark your deets, but that just hasn't been the case. What is known about Knirr could barely fill out an online dating profile. He operated a private art school and taught Paul Klee before moving to Munich and teaching at an all women's art academy. Then, both he and the Hitler years died. Which, you know, not to beat up on a dead guy, isn't all that bad since he made Hitler look so good. Which is bad.

Knirr was probably Hitler's favorite artist since he was the only painter the Fuhrer ever actually sat for. Most painters (including Knirr most of the time) painted portraits of Hitler off of photos taken by Heinrich Hoffman. That's why most Hitler portraits feature him in the same pose, in the same way that a pig has the same pose every time it poops, which is the best thing to think about when looking at a Hitler portrait going for the magnificent look: A pig taking a dump. 

Knirr painted subjects besides Hitler during his rise through the Third Reich. He was a noted landscape and portrait painter, and, outside of painting the Fuhrer, was tasked with painting Hitler's mother and chauffeur. Portraits of these last two hung side by side in Hitler's office, which he undoubtedly stared at fondly while he looked, again, like a swine taking a shart.

Painting Hitler was a big deal.

According to one SS publication: "The Leader is the highest gift to the Nation. He is the German fulfillment. An artist who wants to render The Leader must be more than an artist. The entire German People and German eternity will stand silently in front of this work, filled with emotions to gain strength from it today and for all times. Holy is the art and the call to serve the People. Only the best may dare to render The Leader."

Probably because of statements like that, many portraits of Hitler, including ones by Heinrich Knirr, were destroyed after the war as Nazi propaganda.