Otakar Španiel
Otakar Španiel (born June 13, 1881 in Jaroměř , † February 15, 1955 in Prague ) was a Czech sculptor , medalist and carver .
Life
He received his training at the specialist carving school in Jablonec nad Nisou . In 1901 he completed his studies with Professor Josef Tautenhayn at the medal school of the Vienna Academy . From 1902 to 1904 he studied under the direction of Josef V. Myslbek at the Academy of Fine Arts, Prague . He completed his artistic training with Alexandre Charpentier in Paris.
The stay in France shaped his personal style and his further development, as did his friendship with Antoine Bourdell . In 1917 he was appointed professor at the UMPRUM University of Applied Arts in Prague and in 1919 professor at the Academy of Fine Arts.
During the Nazi era he was imprisoned in a concentration camp .
His brother was the Czechoslovak General Oldřich Španiel , who left Czechoslovakia after the occupation of his country and headed the army chancellery of President Edvard Beneš from 1944 to 1946 .
Works
His work goes in the direction of Art Nouveau , whereby the influence of Myslbek becomes visible. At the beginning he devoted himself to classical sculpture and besides traditional nudes (bathing woman, 1906, woman in a spa, 1908) he devoted himself to the subject of athletes (footballers, jumpers, 1908). After his return from Paris, Bouredell's influence was visible (dancer, 1915, girl with panties, 1916). After the First World War he turned to neoclassicism and became one of the leading exponents of this direction. He devoted himself to the creation of medals, coins, plaques and portraits. His best-known work was the 1 kroner coin from 1921, but also 10, 20, 50 hellers, the "Saint Wenceslas Ducat" and "Ducat of the Roudná gold mine". Its commemorative coins for Charles University and the commemorative plaque for the laying of the foundation stone of the National Theater are also unique .
He also created busts of famous people such as Jan Evangelista Purkyně , Jaroslav Vrchlický , Max Švabinský , Josef Mánes , Bedřich Smetana , Alois Jirásek , Mikoláš Aleš , Jože Plečnik , Josef Suk and Karel Kovařovic . Its most famous monuments are the monument of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk , Josef Mánes and part of the western face of St. Vitus Cathedral .
Recognitions
In 1927 he became a member of the Academy of Sciences, after the Second World War he was a laureate of the State Prize, the award “Honored Artist” and other honors at national and international exhibitions. A street and a primary school were named after him in Prague.
literature
- Václav Štech : Otakar Španiel. Státní nakladatelství krásné literatury, hudby a umění, Prague 1954 ( Současné umění 13, ZDB -ID 1493112-6 ).
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ L. Forrer: Biographical Dictionary of Medallists . Spaniel, Otakar. Volume V. Spink & Son Ltd, London 1912, pp. 580 f .
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Španiel, Otakar |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Czech sculptor, medalist and carver |
| DATE OF BIRTH | June 13, 1881 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Jaroměř |
| DATE OF DEATH | February 15, 1955 |
| Place of death | Prague |