Arnold Hensler

Arnold Hensler (born July 23, 1891 in Wiesbaden , † May 10, 1935 in Trier ) was a German sculptor who specialized in monument and architectural sculpture.

Source nymph, 1932, Lahnmarmor, Reisinger Anlagen, Wiesbaden

Life

Even as a high school student in Hadamar and Oberlahnstein , Hensler stood out for his talent for drawing. He studied architecture at the Mainz School of Applied Arts from 1910 , but then switched to sculpture. After graduating, he was a master student with Bernhard Hötger in Darmstadt from 1912 to 1914 , where he worked on his work for the plane tree grove on Mathildenhöhe . He maintained an open studio that became a meeting place for Darmstadt's young artists. The painter Carl Gunschmann (1895–1984) worked for a long time as a “subtenant” in this studio, the writer Hans Schiebelhuth (1895–1944) wrote to the silhouette cutter and graphic artist Ernst Moritz Engert about the meetings at Hensler's in Munich. In 1915 Hensler went to Berlin , where he contacted Georg Kolbe . From 1916 to 1918 he did military service, first as a medic, then as a cartographer.

From 1918 Hensler worked as a freelancer in Wiesbaden. In 1922 he married the Hamburg-born photographer Annie Möring (1892–1978), who followed his work with the camera; from 1926 in his own residential and studio house built by the architect Edmund Fabry in Wiesbaden-Aukamm, Hedwigstraße 10, which was destroyed in the Second World War. Arnold Hensler belonged to the circle around the art collector Heinrich Kirchhoff , of whom he created a portrait bust, to the Free Artistic Society of Wiesbaden founded in 1925 by Otto Ritschl and was a founding member of the Darmstadt Secession in 1919 . He was also a member of the German Society for Christian Art . In 1933 he was appointed professor of plastic design at the craft and applied arts school - Trier school for Christian art - directed by the glass painter Heinrich Diekmann (1890–1963). His teaching activity ended in 1935 due to his early cardiac death.

He became known for his portrait busts and tombs, but soon turned to monument and architectural sculpture. Here he worked with the Wiesbaden architects Edmund Fabry and Rudolf Joseph (1893–1963), also with Martin Weber , the Frankfurt architects Hans and Christoph Rummel , Carl Anton Meckel , Alfred Wahl (1896–1979) and Aribert Rödel (1898 –1965), as well as the garden architect Friedrich Wilhelm Hirsch . From 1928 to 1930 he was supported in his work by the sculptor Otto Zirnbauer .

plant

Arnold Hensler: Anabaptist Group (1934), St. Johann Basilica (Saarbrücken)

Memorial for those killed in World War I of the Fusilier Regiment von Gersdorff No. 80 from 1930 in Wiesbaden

Portrait reliefs and portrait busts (selection)

Portrait relief of the pharmacist Dr. Jacob Wolff (1846–1912), Limburg an der Lahn, 1913
Bust of the painter Carl Gunschmann (1895–1984), Darmstadt, 1912/1913 (destroyed in the war)
Bust of the art dealer and collector Wilhelm Uhde (1874–1947), Paris, 1915
Bust (self-portrait) 1915
Bust "Lady with Hat" - Annie Möhring (1892–1978) Hamburg, 1920
Bust of sister Paula Keutner (1888–1952), Wiesbaden, 1920
Bust of the art collector Heinrich Kirchhoff (1874–1934), Wiesbaden, around 1920
Bust of Prof. Dr. Gotthold Herxheimer (1872–1936), Wiesbaden, around 1920
Bust of the painter Josef Eberz (1880–1942), Munich, around 1920 (destroyed in the war)
Bust of the writer Hermann Kesser (1880–1952), around 1920
Bust of the dancer Tatjana Barbakoff (1899–1944), Wiesbaden, 1921
Bust of statesman Karl Freiherr vom und zum Stein (1757–1831), probably 1931
Portrait relief of King Friedrich August III. von Sachsen (1865–1932), Dresden, around 1932

Funerary sculpture

various gravestones in the cemeteries in Wiesbaden, Limburg an der Lahn and Rüdesheim
Honorary grave for the pharmacist and local politician Dr. Jacob Wolff (1846–1912), Limburg an der Lahn, 1913
Honorary grave for Lord Mayor Bernhard Klostermann (1874–1919), Koblenz, 1919

Monument sculpture

Crucifixion group in the former cemetery at Limburg Cathedral

The term “honoring the dead of the World War” was chosen because Hensler rarely represented “warriors”.

World War I honoring the dead - wooden plaques with names and St. Michael and St. George - in the parish church of St. Mary of the Assumption in Hallgarten (Rheingau) , 1922
World War I honoring the dead - dying on stele - in Bad Marienberg (Westerwald) , 1923 (changed)
World War I honoring the dead - fountain with kneeling soldier - in Selters (Westerwald) , 1923 (participation in the competition, drawing available)
World War I honoring the dead - soldier and angel - in Hallgarten (Rheingau), 1924 (changed)
World War I honoring the dead - plaques with names - in the administrative building of the Wiesbaden district government , 1925 (no longer available)
Schutzmantelmadonna - Consolatrix afflictorum - in Kevelaer , 1926 (together with the architects Wahl and Rödel, Essen)
World War I honoring the dead - mother and child - at the Dotzheim forest cemetery , 1927/1928 (together with architect Rudolf Joseph, Wiesbaden)
World War I honoring the dead - St. Joseph with dead soldier - in Kölbingen -Möllingen (Westerwald), 1928
World War I honoring the dead - Cyriakus fountain - in Weeze (Niederrhein), 1928/1929 (together with architect Edmund Fabry , Wiesbaden; changed)
The statue of St. Cyriakus is now attached to a wall of the town hall extension, for its construction the complete received system was canceled.
Honoring the dead of the World War - girls and boys flank an inscription plaque - on the canopy of the youth hostel in Limburg an der Lahn , 1930 (Architect: Jüngst, Frankfurt)
After the youth hostel was demolished, the group of figures was converted into the new town hall and equipped with a new inscription plaque.
World War I honoring the dead - figure in niche with names of the fallen on the side - Plato Lodge, Wiesbaden, 1920s or early 1930s (model available)
Memorial - Kneeling Youth - Hamburg, 1929/1930 (Participation in the competition, drawing available)
War memorial 1914–18 for the fallen soldiers of the Kurhessischer Fusilier Regiment von Gersdorff No. 80 in Wiesbaden- Neroberg , 1930 (together with architect Edmund Fabry, Wiesbaden)

Figure group mother and child , war memorial at the Dotzheim forest cemetery , 1928

Source nymph in the Reisinger complex in Wiesbaden, 1932 (together with architect Edmund Fabry and garden architect Friedrich Wilhelm Hirsch, Wiesbaden)
World War I honoring the dead - Taubenmadonna - in Marienbaum (Lower Rhine), 1930 (together with the architects Wahl and Rödel, Essen)
The honoring was carried out without the Madonna after National Socialist objections.
Crucifixion group at the canons' cemetery in Limburg an der Lahn, 1930/1932 (together with architect Martin Weber , Frankfurt am Main)
World War II honor for the dead of the 4th Magdeburg Infantry Regiment - Bochum, 1935 - Kneeling standard bearer (participation in the competition, plans and model photo available)
World War I honoring the dead - crucifix and Saint Michael (planned) - in Lieser on the Moselle, 1935/1936 (together with architect Edmund Fabry)
After National Socialist objections, Saint Michael had to be replaced by a "German warrior"; Hensler created - unnoticed by the Nazis - an evil caricature of the "warrior".
World War I honoring the dead - head and eagle - in the office building of the Reichsbahndirektion Mainz , undated
After the building was destroyed, the head was transferred to the new building with a new plaque, which now houses the registry office of the city of Mainz.
World War I honoring the dead - written wall with a plaque with swords and laurel branches - in Sankt Goarshausen , undated (apparently with architect Edmund Fabry, Wiesbaden)

Building plastic

Depiction of Veronica's handkerchief on the south side of the tower of the Holy Cross Church in Frankfurt-Bornheim

Relief "Outpouring of the Holy Spirit" on the south portal of the Holy Spirit Church in Frankfurt-Riederwald

Francis coat of arms, unknown location, 1925 (evidenced by list of works)
Exhibition pavilion of the city of Wiesbaden on the "Gesolei" 1926, several ceramic figures (architect: Kurt Hoppe, Wiesbaden)
Portal figure St. Bonifatius at the Church of St. Bonifatius in Frankfurt-Sachsenhausen, 1926/1927 (Architect: Martin Weber)

Four other diocese saints were supposed to flank Boniface; they were initially not carried out due to lack of money, later because of the death of Hensler.

Application stucco relief Mother of God with the boy Jesus and the boy Hermann-Joseph, 1928 (documented by list of works, location and building unknown)
for the Heilig-Geist-Kirche in Frankfurt-Riederwald (architect: Martin Weber )
- Façade sculpture of the Holy Spirit Dove at the sister house, 1928 (moved to a new location behind the church during the renovation of the house)
- Crowning the portal “Descent of the Holy Spirit”, 1930/1931
- Crowning the portal “Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit”, 1930/1931
- Application stucco relief "Annunciation", 1930/1931
for the Holy Cross Church in Frankfurt-Bornheim (Architect: Martin Weber )
- Sculptures (symbols of the four evangelists) on the entrance tower of the church, 1928/1929 (slightly changed)
- Application stucco relief of Veronica's handkerchief on the entrance tower of the church, 1928/1929
- Lettering "In the cross is salvation" on the rear facade of the church, 1928/1929
Application stucco relief St. Angela with children on the entrance wall of the St. Angela Ursuline School in Königstein (Taunus), 1929 (Architect: Martin Weber)
Sculpture of St. Konrad on the tower facade of the Church of St. Konrad in Freiburg im Breisgau, 1929 (Architect: Carl Anton Meckel, Freiburg)
Symbol cuboid of the four elements on the Landeshaus extension in Wiesbaden, 1929 (architect unknown)
Application stucco relief standing St. Georg at the parish hall "St.-Georg-Hof" in Limburg an der Lahn, 1930/1931 (Architect: Martin Weber)

After the building was demolished, a copy of the metal relief was attached to the Karstadt building erected at the same location.

Facade relief of a Sanctus angel for the Church of St. Willibrord in Kellen , 1930/1931 (Architects: Wahl and Rödel, Essen)
Sculpture of St. Elisabeth with people in need for the St. Elisabeth House in Kirchen (Sieg) , 1931 (Architects: Wahl and Rödel, Essen)

After the building was demolished, the sculpture was placed in the entrance hall of the hospital in churches.

Façade sculpture St. Josef with baby Jesus at the church St. Josef in Frankfurt-Bornheim, 1932 (Architects: Hans and Christoph Rummel, Frankfurt)
Coronation of the portal of St. George on horseback at the Episcopal Ordinariate in Limburg an der Lahn, 1935/1936 (Architect: Martin Weber; executed according to the Hensler model by the sculptor Heinrich Hamm, Trier-Euren)

Sacral sculpture

Pietà made of wood in the Holy Cross Church in Frankfurt-Bornheim

Maria, bride of the Holy Spirit, smaller model of the altar sculpture of the Heilig-Geist-Kirche in Frankfurt-Riederwald, 1926 (available in several forms)
Maria, Bride of the Holy Spirit, altar sculpture of the Holy Spirit Church in Frankfurt-Riederwald, 1926/1927
Maria, Regina Pacis, 1928 (documented by list of works, no details known)
Maria Maienkönigin, colored wooden sculpture, parish church St. Michael Saarbrücken , 1928 (architect: Hans Herkommer, Stuttgart)
Pietà in the Heilig-Kreuz-Kirche in Frankfurt-Bornheim, 1929 (executed after the model of Hensler by the carver Josef Rainer, Frankfurt)
Nativity figures for the Holy Cross Church in Frankfurt-Bornheim, 1930
Little Madonna in protective cloak, 1931 (documented by list of works, no details known)
Mater Salvatoris for the Church of St. Willibrord in Kellen, 1931
Design of an altar of the Sacred Heart of Jesus for the Frauenfriedenskirche Frankfurt, 1931 (Architect: Hans Herkommer, Stuttgart)
Baptism of Christ in the Jordan for the Church of St. Johann in Saarbrücken, 1934/1935
St. Joseph with Baby Jesus in the park of a nursing home in Bad Soden, undated (probably 1930s)
Crucifix in St. Wendelin's Church in Stahlhofen (Westerwald), undated (probably 1930s)
Maria, Bride of the Holy Spirit (as a second copy of the sculpture for the Heilig-Geist-Kirche in Frankfurt-Riederwald from 1926) in the Church of St. Bruno in Lötzen (East Prussia), 1936/1937 (architect: Martin Weber)
Design of a high altar for St. Paul in Cologne, 1928 (architect: Martin Weber; not executed)

Free plastic (selection)

Four files in niches in the entrance hall of the Wiesbaden Museum, 1912/1913
Crouching, also crouching, 1922
Diana with deer, garden sculpture in Limburg an der Lahn, 1933

Exhibitions

2018 Kunstarche Wiesbaden: An artist couple between the world wars, the sculptor Arnold Hensler and his wife, the photographer Annie Hensler-Möhring

literature

Hensler, Arnold . In: Hans Vollmer (Hrsg.): General lexicon of fine artists from antiquity to the present . Founded by Ulrich Thieme and Felix Becker . tape 16 : Hansen – Heubach . EA Seemann, Leipzig 1923, p. 435 .
Hensler, Arnold . In: Hans Vollmer (Hrsg.): General Lexicon of Fine Artists of the XX. Century. tape 2 : E-J . EA Seemann, Leipzig 1955, p. 423 .
Franz Josef Hamm: Hensler, Arnold . In: General Artist Lexicon . The visual artists of all times and peoples (AKL). Volume 72, de Gruyter, Berlin 2011, ISBN 978-3-11-023177-9 .
Rome Landau: The incorruptible Minos. Criticism of contemporary art. Hamburg 1925, p. 98 f., Ill. In the plate section.
Ganelon: The sculptor Arnold Hensler. In: Wiesbadener Fremdblatt. No. 85, June 11, 1927, pp. 3-4.
Alexander Hildebrandt: The portrait: Arnold Hensler. In: Wiesbaden International. Issue 4/1978, pp. 33–39.
Franz Josef Hamm: Arnold Hensler. In: Hessian homeland. Volume 29, 1979, pp. 43-48.
Franz Josef Hamm: Martin Weber and Arnold Hensler. An artist partnership. In: The Minster. 64th year, 2011, issue 1, pp. 10–19.
Franz Josef Hamm, Felicitas Reusch: An artist couple between the world wars. The sculptor Arnold Hensler and the photographer Annie Hensler-Möring. Reichert, Wiesbaden 2018, ISBN 978-3-95490-312-2 .

Web links

Commons : Arnold Hensler - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Arnold Hensler. On: Redworks.info.
Wandelhalle in the Reisinger facilities. ( PDF ; 2.4 MB). On: BLW-Fraktion.de.

Individual evidence

↑ Otto Zirnbauer noted the following works under the item 1928-1930, collaboration with Professor Hensler, Wiesbaden , in a catalog raisonné he created himself : “Ehrenmal Mainz - Bahnverwaltung; Pieta - Holy Cross Church Frankfurt / Main; St.Josef - Bad Soden; War memorial Weeze / Lower Rhine; [instead of repeated symbols added: war memorial] Neroberg - Wiesbaden; Well nymph Reisingerbrunnen Wiesbaden; Nativity scene Heilig-Kreuzkirche Frankfurt / Main; Ecce homo [Holy Cross Church Frankfurt / Main]; Bad Kreuznach war memorial; St. Konrad Freiburg / Brsg .; Crucifixion group - Limburg / Lahn, cathedral; Majolica nursing home, Patschkau; Portrait of Frhr.v.Stein - bronze; 'Wanderer' - Limburg / Lahn Youth Hostel, Muschelkalk ”(unchanged quote).
^ Franz Josef Hamm: Martin Weber and Arnold Hensler. An artist partnership . In: Das Münster, magazine for Christian art and cultural studies . 64th year, no. 1 . Schnell & Steiner, 2011, ISSN 0027-299X , p. 10-19 .

personal data
SURNAME	Hensler, Arnold
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	German sculptor
DATE OF BIRTH	July 23, 1891
PLACE OF BIRTH	Wiesbaden
DATE OF DEATH	May 10, 1935
Place of death	trier

[1] Otto Zirnbauer noted the following works under the item 1928-1930, collaboration with Professor Hensler, Wiesbaden , in a catalog raisonné he created himself : “Ehrenmal Mainz - Bahnverwaltung; Pieta - Holy Cross Church Frankfurt / Main; St.Josef - Bad Soden; War memorial Weeze / Lower Rhine; [instead of repeated symbols added: war memorial] Neroberg - Wiesbaden; Well nymph Reisingerbrunnen Wiesbaden; Nativity scene Heilig-Kreuzkirche Frankfurt / Main; Ecce homo [Holy Cross Church Frankfurt / Main]; Bad Kreuznach war memorial; St. Konrad Freiburg / Brsg .; Crucifixion group - Limburg / Lahn, cathedral; Majolica nursing home, Patschkau; Portrait of Frhr.v.Stein - bronze; 'Wanderer' - Limburg / Lahn Youth Hostel, Muschelkalk ”(unchanged quote).

[2] Franz Josef Hamm: Martin Weber and Arnold Hensler. An artist partnership . In: Das Münster, magazine for Christian art and cultural studies . 64th year, no. 1 . Schnell & Steiner, 2011, ISSN 0027-299X , p. 10-19 .