Edwin Grienauer
Encyclopedia
Edwin Grienauer was an Austria
n sculptor
and medalist. He was born and died in Vienna
.
). He fought in World War I
and suffered an injury that partially disfigured his face. In 1935, he received the title of Professor and taught at the Vienna Arts Academy (Akademie der bildenden Künste) after 1945. His studio was located in the Vienna Prater
park, where he died in 1964.
The artist was an excellent amateur in rowing and won the Austrian championships in double sculls in 1927. His Olympic success came from his art, however: In 1928 he won a gold medal in the art competitions of the Olympic Games for his "Médailles" and twenty years later he won a bronze medal for his "Prize Rowing Trophy".
His large sculptures are still present today in Vienna and include reliefs and architectural sculptures, religious statues on and in churches in Vienna and Baden, and even floor tiles for St Stephan's Cathedral. A tabernacle showing the Annunciation
to Mary is in the archives of St Stephan's Cathedral.
Works include coining dies of the Austrian 1st and 2nd Republic. Grienauer designed the denomination side of the last one-Schilling-coin of Austria, which was in circulation from 1959 to 2002. He designed commemorative and regular issue coins for Liechtenstein
as well.
A complete list of Grienauer's work hasn't been established yet. It was only in 2003 that the institute for numismatics
at Vienna University started to work on Grienauer's estate which had been permanently loaned to the institute by the artist's descendants. In addition to coins and medals, the estate contains drawings, models and coining dies, which illustrate the creative process and techniques of the medalist's work.
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n sculptor
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
and medalist. He was born and died in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
.
Life
Edwin Grienauer was the son of cello player Karl Grienauer and opera singer Helene Schott. His father migrated to the U.S. to pursue his musical career, leaving Edwin to fend for himself in Vienna. At 19, Edwin created his first portrait plaques and then went on to study at Vienna's applied arts college (Wiener KunstgewerbeschuleKunstgewerbeschule
A Kunstgewerbeschule was the old name for an advanced school of applied arts in German-speaking countries. The first such schools were opened in Kassel in 1867 and Berlin and Munich in 1868 with other German towns following. They are now merged into universities....
). He fought in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and suffered an injury that partially disfigured his face. In 1935, he received the title of Professor and taught at the Vienna Arts Academy (Akademie der bildenden Künste) after 1945. His studio was located in the Vienna Prater
Prater
The Wiener Prater is a large public park in Vienna's 2nd district . The amusement park, often simply called "Prater", stands in one corner of the Wiener Prater and includes the .-Name:...
park, where he died in 1964.
The artist was an excellent amateur in rowing and won the Austrian championships in double sculls in 1927. His Olympic success came from his art, however: In 1928 he won a gold medal in the art competitions of the Olympic Games for his "Médailles" and twenty years later he won a bronze medal for his "Prize Rowing Trophy".
Work
Grienauer was proficient in all areas of sculptural design. He is particularly well known as a designer of Austrian commemorative and regular issue coins. The medal work of Grienauer is dominated by award and service medals of national or economic institutions and prizes for sporting events.His large sculptures are still present today in Vienna and include reliefs and architectural sculptures, religious statues on and in churches in Vienna and Baden, and even floor tiles for St Stephan's Cathedral. A tabernacle showing the Annunciation
Annunciation
The Annunciation, also referred to as the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary or Annunciation of the Lord, is the Christian celebration of the announcement by the angel Gabriel to Virgin Mary, that she would conceive and become the mother of Jesus the Son of God. Gabriel told Mary to name her...
to Mary is in the archives of St Stephan's Cathedral.
Works include coining dies of the Austrian 1st and 2nd Republic. Grienauer designed the denomination side of the last one-Schilling-coin of Austria, which was in circulation from 1959 to 2002. He designed commemorative and regular issue coins for Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein
The Principality of Liechtenstein is a doubly landlocked alpine country in Central Europe, bordered by Switzerland to the west and south and by Austria to the east. Its area is just over , and it has an estimated population of 35,000. Its capital is Vaduz. The biggest town is Schaan...
as well.
A complete list of Grienauer's work hasn't been established yet. It was only in 2003 that the institute for numismatics
Numismatics
Numismatics is the study or collection of currency, including coins, tokens, paper money, and related objects. While numismatists are often characterized as students or collectors of coins, the discipline also includes the broader study of money and other payment media used to resolve debts and the...
at Vienna University started to work on Grienauer's estate which had been permanently loaned to the institute by the artist's descendants. In addition to coins and medals, the estate contains drawings, models and coining dies, which illustrate the creative process and techniques of the medalist's work.