International studio (30.1906/1907(1907))

The Imperial Arts and Crafts Schools, Vienna

a very early age, entered the military college, and
afterwards rose to the rank of lieutenant. Already
when a cadet he distinguished himself by his
drawings. Practically self-taught, he was accus-
tomed to seeing things for himself instead of
with the eyes of a teacher, as would have been
the case had he learnt under the old system.
The little teaching he ever enjoyed was at the
Imperial Academy of Fine Arts, under Eisen-
menger. After various experiences in different
places, where he happened to be stationed as a
military officer, he was recalled to Vienna and later
became a teacher of drawing at the Cadet School,
and while there exhibited his first picture—a
military subject, one which he was highly com-
petent to depict, for he had
taken active part in the
Bosnian Campaign. Soon
afterwards he resigned—
this was in 1881-—and went
to Paris, ostensibly for three
years, but remained there
for sixteen. In 1883 his
picture Am Boulevard de
St. Michel aroused much
attention at the Salon,
as did also the drawings
which he contributed to
the catalogue. From that
moment he was a made
man, and from every side
he was eagerly sought for
as an illustrator of books.

In 1897 he returned to Vienna, joined the Seces-
sionists, and two years later became Director of
the Arts and Crafts Schools.
The authorities were fortunate in finding a man
armed with the knowledge and power requisite to
bring about a reform. It was no easy task to lift
the arts and crafts out of the stereotyped lines
between which they had been so firmly fixed for
so many decades, and to put them on a new and
sound foundation. The result was seen in the
short space of a year, for at the exhibition held
in 1900 it was manifest that a great success had
been achieved, and that Austrian arts and crafts
only needed judicious organisation, coupled with
judicious teaching, for their development. Baron


GARDEN DESIGN BY FRANZ LEBISCH (PROF. HOFFMANN’S CLASS)


GARDEN DESIGN BY FRANZ LEBISCH (PROF. HOFFMANN’S CLASS)

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Myrbach excelled in both
directions, and under his
able teaching graphic art
has become a real thing
here. Seeking his inspira-
tion solely in the book of
Nature, he taught her ways
as he himself had learnt
them. He was happy too
in those who were appointed
to form part of his staff.
Around him came a band
of devoted men great as
artists and craftsmen and
as teachers. Thus Pro-
fessor Josef Hoffmann
brought new life to archi-
tecture, and decorative art
went forward by strides