Studio: international art (41.1907)

Studio-Talk

schools for wood-carving in the Imperial dominions. more and more attention on the part of artists of the

He was then but fourteen, but as he showed un- modern school, and Gornik also turned his thoughts

usual ability at the end of the four-years' course of in this direction, one of the results being The

instruction there, he was awarded a stipend in order Lovers—a work showing how closely Gornik has

that he might continue his studies at the Kunst- studied animal nature. The modelling of this

gewerbeschule in Vienna. Before entering this insti- feline couple is vigorous and full of feeling, while

tution, however, he studied for a year under Theodor the facial characteristics are aptly rendered, as

Charlemont, an artist of sound judgment, and also is that suppleness of limb and body which

possessing unusual merits as a teacher. At Vienna distinguishes animals of this kind,

he was first a pupil of Professor Breitner, and later, -

when the school was re-modelled by Baron Myr- Not content to confine his studies to the wild

bach, the young sculptor entered the class of Pro- animals at Schonbrunn, Gornik turned his attention

fessor Strasser, one of the leaders of the Secession, to the domestic animals he had been familiar with

appointed at the same time as Professors Hoff- in his country home—the oxen and horses employed

mann, Moser, and other moderns. Gornik quickly in husbandry. Both in the Team of Oxen and

distinguished himself as a student in Vienna, and Draught Horses there is something almost human

at the end of his course was awarded a travel- in the dignity with which these toilers are invested,

ling scholarship in order that he might study the Remarkable too for its powerful delineation is the

plastic art of other nations. Troika, which was lately exhibited at the Kunstler-

- haus and so impressed the Kaiser that he bought

Gornik early developed a taste for animal sculp- it. Nor has he restricted himself to animals,

ture, and in the zoological gardens at Schonbrunn though it is here that his particular gifts are revealed

in the grounds of the famous castle, he found suf- most conspicuously. Among other human subjects

ficient and varied material for studying them from he has modelled, the Wrestler may be mentioned

nature. These studies were carried on at a time as an example of this talented young sculptor's

when garden architecture was beginning to claim vigorous manipulation. A. S. L.

"troika" (bronze)
318

by frikdrich gornik
executed by a. rubenstein