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 wedding announcement demonstrates Schönthal’s combination of classically derived elements with distinctly Jungendstil motifs to create a restrained yet exciting design. The work also reminds us of the range of his production with graphic design work, such as this, being pursued alongside his architectural projects.

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. 104 on p. 224

Watermark: Watermark: none.

Inscription: Recto: within the image, left of centre, metallic silver ink: “HERR u FRAU WOLF: / ZEIGEN: HIEMIT: DIE / VERMAULNG IHRER / :TOCHTER. ELSE. MIT: / HRN ERNST. LAHR.AN / WIEN AM:::: / 10. AUGUST 1903”; within the image, right of centre, metallic silver ink: “HERR. PAUL: LAHR: / ZEIGT. HIEMIT: DIE. / VERMALUNG. SEIN: / SOHNES. ERNST. MIT: / FRE ELSE. WOLF. AN:: / TRAUUNGST: / STEFAN. 3HR”; lower right corner, black ink: “MOTTO: ROSEO UND MARGARITE [followed by symbols approximating: “@DDDDD”]”. Verso: lower right corner, graphite: “W94 / 84”. Mount, Recto of back cover: lower right corner, graphite: “W94” and a large “84”. Folder, Recto of flap: lower right, graphite: “W94” and circled “103”.

Collector's mark: none.