Othmar Schimkowitz

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Othmar Schimkowitz
Born October 2, 1864(1864-10-02)
Tarts, Hungary
Died April 24, 1947 (aged 82)}
Graz, Austria
Nationality Austria
Field Sculpture
Training Edmund von Hellmer, Carl Kundmann
Movement Art Nouveau
The 1898 Secession Building
The 1898 Secession Building
Wienzeile 38 apartment block, Vienna
Wienzeile 38 apartment block, Vienna

Othmar Schimkowitz (2 October 1864 - 1947) was a Hungarian-born architectural sculptor with work on the greatest landmarks of the Vienna Secession.

[edit] Life

Schimkowitz studied at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, lived for three years in New York as friends with the Austrian-American sculptor Karl Bitter, and returned to Vienna in 1895. He joined the Vienna Secession in 1898.

[edit] Major Works

His architectural sculpture includes:

  • figurative ornamentation for the 1897 Gutenberg Monument, Vienna, Jože Plečnik, architect
  • the three gorgons on the 1898 Secession exhibition building in Vienna, Joseph Maria Olbrich, architect
  • the "calling women" (gutters heckling) of the 1898-1899 Wienzeile 38 apartment block, Vienna, Otto Wagner, architect
  • exterior work on the Austrian Pavilion at the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis, Missouri
  • rooftop angels of the 1904-1906 Austrian Postal Savings Bank in Vienna, also for Wagner
  • the 1905 Vienna Economic Chamber, Ludwig Baumann, architect
  • angels on the 1907 Kirche am Steinhof in Vienna, also for Wagner
Steinhof Church commemorative coin
Steinhof Church commemorative coin

[edit] See Also

Once of Schimkowitz's most prominent design used in a building (The Steinhof Church) was selected as a main motif of one of the most famous euro collectors coins: the Austrian 100 euro Steinhof Church commemorative coin, minted in November 9, 2005. On the reverse of the coin, the Koloman Moser stained glass window over the main entrance can be seen. In the center of the window is God the Father seated on a throne. The window is flanked with a pair of bronze angels in Jugendstil style, originally designed by Othmar Schimkowitz.

Persondata
NAME Schimkowitz, Othmar
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Austrian Art Nouveau Sculptor
DATE OF BIRTH 1864
PLACE OF BIRTH Tarts, Hungary
DATE OF DEATH 1947
PLACE OF DEATH Graz, Austria