Otto Schönthal, a leading architect of the Vienna Secessionist period, was one of the star architectural pupils of Otto Wagner’s ‘special class’ at the Akademie in Vienna. Schönthal worked in Wagner’s Atelier from around 1900 and in 1909 set up a group practice with two fellow students from the Wagner ‘special class’, Emil Hoppe and Marcel Kammerer. Their work during this period was daringly modern in the Jungendstil mode but demonstrated respect for historical styles and made a significant contribution to the architecture and design of the Viennese Secessionist period. Their output ranged from large-scale architectural projects and monuments, to private villas and also included graphic and decorative design work. A distinctive aspect of their practice was their development of a highly refined approach to both working design drawings and presentation drawings.

This is one of the few surviving working design drawings for Schönthal’s major commission of his early years to create a fountain for Vienna’s Mozartplatz, which was installed 1905-06 and still stands today. The drawing gives insight into Schönthal’s use of pen and ink and watercolour to begin to visualise his rather complex design; a combination of carved stonework, applied bronze floral decoration and a bronze sculpture of figures from the Magic Flute. In contrast to more finished and technical architectural designs, this sheet demonstrates Schönthal’s use of drawing as a way of exploring ideas and generating forms, in just the same way as a fine artist would use a sketch.

purchased from the artist's sale of 'Hoppe, Kammerer, Schönthal studio material' by Heinrich 'Harry' Fischer, late 1950s; by descent to Wolfgang Fischer; purchased from him by Paul Asenbaum and Niall Hobhouse, 2013; their gift to The Courtauld, 2013

Whyte, Iain Boyd, Emil Hoppe, Marcel Kammerer, Otto Schönthal: three architects from the master class of Otto Wagner, Ernst and Sohn, Berlin 1989
no. 20 on p. 215

Watermark: Watermark: none.

Inscription: Verso: upper right, graphite: “b”; right centre, graphite: “I”; lower right edge, graphite: “129” and “W80”. Mount, Recto of back cover: lower right edge, graphite: “129” and “W802”. Folder, Recto of front cover: upper left corner, grey ink over graphite, encircled: “20” and erased “W80”. Folder, Verso of back cover: lower left corner, graphite, upside down: “W.80.”.

Collector's mark: none.