Julius Klengel (1859–1933) and Hugo Becker (1863–1941) were two of the most influential cellists of the late nineteenth century. Both were closely associated with the Dresden cello-school tradition of Grutzmacher and masters of interpretation of Romantic-period composers. However, very little has been written about their respective beginnings, concertizing careers and accomplishments, teaching styles and materials, compositions and editions, and philosophies relating to cello technique. Nonetheless, Klengel's and Becker's legacies and contributions to cello literature and technique continue to influence cellists today. Thanks to the memoirs of their contemporaries and students through an analysis of recordings, technical studies, perofrmance editions, and published compositions, this dissertation attempts to investigat the different aspects of their respective careers, illuminating the similarities and differences between these two German master cellists. This dissertation also revisits the evolution of cello techniques, performance practices, and repertoire just prior to the emergence of Casals's revolutionary teaching philosophies, which shaped the succeeding generation of cellists.