Blauensteiner, Leopold

Leopold Blauensteiner was born on January 16, 1880 in Vienna. The future artist was the son of Leopold Blauensteiner (Leopold Blauensteiner) ^[2] and his wife Johanna Toscano del Banner. The father died shortly after the birth of the boy, the mother died seven years later. Left without parents, Leopold Blauensteiner studied at Melk Gymnasium (Melk); As a schoolboy, he worked on rebuilding a local parish church.

After graduating from school, Leopold served in the army for one year. He began studying drawing in Vienna (Vienna), at the Academy of Fine Arts (Academy of Fine Arts); his studies were led by Professor Christian Gripenkerl (Christian Griepenkerl). For a while, Blauensteiner learned various aspects of the history of art, took private lessons from Alfred Roller . Alfred Roller was also known as the publisher of the magazine ' Ver Sacrum ' - one of the most important print media, the so-called Vienna Secession, an association of local artists. In the years 1903-1904 color xylographs of Leopold were published in the journal; so the artist first presented his work to the public.

In 1904, Blauensteiner married Friderika Berger (Friderika Berger); they had three sons. In 1908, Leopold worked in the framework of the project 'Kunstschau Wien 1908'; Then he often managed to play a crucial role in the activities of local art organizations.

During the First World War, Blauensteiner fought in the Lancers regiment; He left the service in 1916 in the rank of lieutenant.

In 1924, Leopold joined the 'Die Hand' group; artists exhibited their works in Vienna. Later, Blauensteiner bought a house in Melk ; there he equipped an art studio. In 1927, Leopold received the Austrian State Prize; two years later, the painting 'Funeralien' brought him a scholarship to study for a year in Italy. There the artist lingered until 1930; returning then to Austria. In 1932, Blauensteiner received another state award and the title of professor.

In 1933, the artist joined the Austrian National Socialist Party ; soon, however, it was banned on the territory of Austria, and Leopold joined the Popular Front (Popular Front).

In 1937, Blauensteiner became president of the Association of Vienna Artists and the Permanent Delegation of Austrian Artists. In 1941, he headed the Viennese 'Künstlerhaus'.

In 1939, Leopold rejoined the Nazis; he was appointed director of the Reichskammer der bildenden Künste Fine Arts Chamber in Vienna ^[3] . Blauensteiner did not stay long in this post; soon he was dismissed, a little later he returned the title of honorary director. In 1944, Leopold was able to stop work on turning the 'Künstlerhaus' into an aircraft factory; He actively opposed the destruction of works of 'decaying art' - Blauensteiner hid the sentenced paintings in an old mine.

After the war, the artist appeared in court - the Soviet troops in Austria suspected the artist of aiding the invaders. At trial, Leopold managed to dispel all suspicions and was released. Blauensteiner died in 1947 in Vienna from heart failure.

The main works of the artist include: "Funeral Rites at Melk Abbey" ("Funerary rites in Melk Abbey"), Der tote Sohn , Die Strecke , Symphonie in Blau ("Symphony in Blue"), family photos and landscapes. Even before the Second World War, part of his work was sold. From trips to Italy, Dalmatia, Lorraine and Germany, the artist brought many of his works, among them landscapes. Blauensteiner participated in international art exhibitions in Prague, Dresden , Berlin and other cities.

Blauensteiner worked mainly as an artist, but among his works there are many projects of decorative gratings, lanterns and the like.

Most of the artist’s paintings are privately owned in the art gallery in Bern , the Austrian Belvedere Gallery, the Albertina Gallery , the Museum of the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, the Vienna City Hall, the Leopold Museum in Vienna and the Orsay Museum in Paris .

• Das Jahrbuch der Wiener Gesellschaft. Biographische Beiträge zur Wiener Zeitgeschichte. Hg. von Franz Planer. Vienna: F. Planer 1929
• Rudolf Schmidt: Österreichisches Künstlerlexikon. Von den Anfängen bis zur Gegenwart. Vienna: Tusch 1974-1980
• Hans Vollmer [Hg.]: Allgemeines Lexikon der bildenden Künstler des 20. Jahrhunderts. 6 Bände. München: Deutscher Taschenbuch-Verlag 1953-1962
• Rathaus-Korrespondenz. Wien: Presse- und Informationsdienst, 1/7/1980

• Das Menschenbild in der Skulptur in Österreich zwischen 1938 und 1945