Carl Kundmann

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Carl Kundmann, lithograph by Josef Bauer, 1880

Carl Kundmann (born June 15, 1838 in Vienna ; † June 9, 1919 there ) was an Austrian sculptor . He is considered to be one of the main masters of the Ringstrasse epoch , where he took on numerous decorative work.

life and work

Kundmann studied at the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts and was a student of Franz Bauer and in Josef Cesar's studio . After six years Kundmann went to Ernst Julius Hähnel in Dresden , who influenced him stylistically. From 1865 to 1867 he lived during a study visit to Rome , where he also worked on the designs for the Schubert monument in Vienna's city park . The client was the Vienna Men's Choir Association , whose members decided in 1862 to erect a monument to the composer. In 1864 the decision was made that it should stand in the city park, according to the ideas of the choral society on the only raised point in the park , later known as the Zelinka Hill due to the bust of the Mayor of Vienna Andreas Zelinka that was erected there . However, the Artistic Advisory Board of the City Expansion Committee decided that a less prominent, “more intimate” location would be more appropriate. The foundation stone was laid in 1868, in the presence of Mayor Zelinka and some of Schubert's relatives. The composer's memorial, shown seated with a music book in his lap and a pencil in his right hand, was erected between trees in the lawn. Three reliefs on the base designed by Theophil Hansen represent vocal music in allegories on the right, instrumental music on the left and fantasy on the front. The inscription reads: Franz Schubert. In his memory, the Vienna Men's Choir . The work, unveiled on May 15, 1872, was such a success that Kundmann was appointed professor at the General Sculpture School of the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, where he taught until 1909.

Kundmann's early work also includes the four life-size portrait statues made of white Carrara marble , which he made for the general hall of the "kuk Waffenmuseum" (now the Army History Museum ), which was completed in 1856 . These are depictions of Margrave Leopold I , King Rudolf I , Charles Bonaventure de Longueval, Comte de Bucquoy and Prince Eugene of Savoy . He received the commission from Emperor Franz Joseph's mother , Archduchess Sophie .

In 1872 Kundmann took part in the competition for the monument to Archduchess Maria Theresa on the square between the Natural History Museum and the Art History Museum , which, however, was carried out by Kaspar von Zumbusch . Kundmann received orders for a number of sculptures at the two museums. He also created, among other things, the Grillparzer monument in the Volksgarten , building sculptures for the Vienna City Hall , the New Hofburg , the arcades of the University of Vienna and several funerary monuments. His studio was at Landstraßer Gürtel No. 3.

Kundmann's main works are the monumental Athene fountain in front of the parliament building and the monument to the admiral of the Austro-Hungarian navy Wilhelm von Tegetthoff on the Praterstern .

The Tegetthoff monument was originally intended to be erected in front of the Votive Church , but after discussions it finally found its place at the Praterstern, where it was unveiled on September 21, 1886. The approximately 3.5 m high figure of the founder of the maritime power of the Danube Monarchy stands on a 16 m high marble column, which is reminiscent of the triumphal columns on Paris' Place Vendôme and London's Trafalgar Square and is based on ancient models ( columna rostrata , "honor column") . From the pillar emerge three hulls that grow larger towards the bottom, each of which carries the goddess of victory Nike as a figurehead (this is why there was the shame that it was the monument to the inventor of the clothes rack). At the base there are two groups of sculptures, fighting vehicles pulled by horses through waves, which are steered on the left by a fighting goddess with the Austro-Hungarian double eagle on the shield and a dragon on the helmet and on the right by a triumphant winged goddess with a laurel wreath in her hand . Two tritons hold plaques commemorating Tegethoff's victories in the naval battle off Heligoland and in the sea ​​battle of Lissa .

Honorary grave of Carl Kundmann in the Vienna Central Cemetery .

His honorary grave is in the Vienna Central Cemetery (10-1-56).

A few weeks after the artist's death, Kundmanngasse in the 3rd district of Landstrasse was named after him.

His students included u. a. the sculptors Alfonso Canciani from the Austro-Hungarian Friuli, the Viennese Franz Haag , the Lower Austrian Heinrich Fuss and the Thuringian Christian Behrens .

Works (selection)

gallery

literature

Web links

Commons : Carl Kundmann  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Ilse Krumpöck: The images in the Army History Museum . Vienna 2004, p. 100
  2. ↑ Ilse Krumpöck: Die Bildwerke im Heeresgeschichtliches Museum , Vienna 2004, p. 5.
personal data
SURNAME Kundmann, Carl
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Kundmann, Karl
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Austrian sculptor
DATE OF BIRTH June 15, 1838
PLACE OF BIRTH Vienna
DATE OF DEATH June 9, 1919
Place of death Vienna