{{Short description|Slovene sculptor}} {{Infobox artist | name = <big>Joseph Urbania</big> | birth_name = '''Josip Vrbanija''' | birth_date = {{Birth date|1877|02|16|mf=y}} | birth_place = Ljublijana, Slovenia | death_date = {{death date and age|1943|6|10|1877|02|16|mf=y}} | death_place = Vienna, Austria | field = Sculpture | training = Academy of Fine Arts Vienna | movement = Poetical Realism and The Vienna Secession thumb|center|Joseph Urbania: "Mother Mary with Rosary" (1907) }} '''Joseph Urbania''' (also '''Josef Urbanija''' or '''Josip Vrbanija''') (February 16, 1877 – June 10, 1943) was a 20th-century Slovene sculptor, who lived and worked in Austria for much of his life. His media was large-scale wood, stone, bronze and plaster religious sculptures for European cathedrals.
==Early life== Joseph Urbania's mother Lucija was a housekeeper in the home of sculptor Franz Ksaver (1821–1888), who was the father of renowned sculptor Ivan Zajec.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slovenska-biografija.si/oseba/sbi853226/|title=Zajec, Ivan (1869–1952) - Slovenska biografija|website=Slovenska-biografija.si|accessdate=30 July 2017}}</ref> Urbania's step-father Josip Groselj (1854-1941)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dlib.si/details/URN:NBN:SI:DOC-H66ADDZK/?euapi=1&query=%27keywords%3D%C5%BEelezne%20niti%27&pageSize=25|title=Josip Groselj (1854-1941), pg.117}}</ref> was one of his son's early teachers and an artistic assistant and heir to the senior Zajec workshop. Zajec's influence can be seen in much of Urbania's early work.
At age 21, Joseph Urbania joined the Slovenian Army, during which time he was commissioned by Captain H. Wesshuber, to carve a large figure called ''Homeland'' (exhibited in Ljubljana, 1903). Upon completion of his military service - and with the savings from his art commissions - Urbania moved to Vienna to study and work. From 1906–1914, with the commissioned support of the Viennese Provincial Committee, Urbania resumed his full-time study of painting, drawing and sculpture at the Heinrich Strehblow Akademie of Arts (now part of the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.akbild.ac.at/Portal/organisation/uber-uns/mission-statement?set_language=en&cl=en|title=Academy of Fine Arts|website=Akbild.ac.at|accessdate=30 July 2017|archive-date=17 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517082330/https://www.akbild.ac.at/Portal/organisation/uber-uns/mission-statement?set_language=en&cl=en|url-status=dead}}</ref> under sculpture Professor Hans Bitterlich (1860-1949).
In a discussion<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rtvslo.si/impresionisti/news/article/7|title=Intervju z Matejo Breščak o kiparstvu|website=Rtvslo.si|accessdate=30 July 2017}}</ref> of Urbania and other sculptors of the early 20th Century, Mateja Breščak, the Chief Curator of the National Gallery of Slovenia, said, "Students at the Vienna Academy – after acquiring basic sculpting skills from professors Edmund Hellmer, Caspar von Zumbusch, Karl Kundmann and Hans Bitterlich – were familiarized with religious motifs, but all turned toward secular motifs." Nonetheless, she said, "The sculpture of that time did not merge into artistic societies with common ideological goals." Instead, she said, "The Slovenian sculptors between 1890 and 1920 worked in an academically realistic, neo-baroque, neo-classical style, while they focused on social, mythological, biblical, historical and poetic motifs. The most visible and most influential sculptural personality of this new era is certainly Auguste Rodin, who also influenced our sculptors."
==Career== thumb|left|Joseph Urbania: ''After the Battle'' (1905) While living in Vienna, Urbania produced commissioned sculpture and paintings and exhibited his work there.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.slovenska-biografija.si/oseba/sbi749037/|title=Urbanija, Josip (1877–1943) – Slovenska biografija|website=Slovenska-biografija.si|accessdate=30 July 2017}}</ref> He began to be recognized publicly for his achievements and received the Gundel Art Prize for sculpture in 1910 and the Preleuthner Prize in 1912. Urbania lived briefly in Sarajevo in 1915-1918 where, together with a team of artists, he created a monument to WWI soldiers at the Kovaci Cemetery.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Martyrs'_Memorial_Cemetery_Kova%C4%8Di|title=Category:Martyrs' Memorial Cemetery Kovači – Wikimedia Commons|website=Commons.wikimedia.org|accessdate=30 July 2017}}</ref> After the war, he relocated permanently to Vienna where he lived and worked until his death in 1943.
Before WWI, Urbania began to produce anti-war allegory works. His massive wood-carving ''The Last Battle'' (1905), a scene from the Russo-Japanese War, was donated to the Dežel Museum in 1906 and is now on display at the National Gallery of Slovenia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.europeana.eu/portal/en/record/92054/URN_NBN_SI_doc_KC1GZMT7.html?q=urbanija|title=Tolažnica v zadnjem boju; Prizor iz rusko-japonske vojne |website=Europeana.eu |accessdate=2017-07-30}}</ref> Other anti-war pieces include: ''Hail Caesar'' (1915)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dlib.si/details/URN:NBN:SI:doc-ZODUY7RN|title=Digitalna knjižnica Slovenije – dLib.si|website=Dlib.si|accessdate=30 July 2017}}</ref> ''After the Battle'' (1908)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dlib.si/details/URN:NBN:SI:doc-5EJZ9B4O|title=Digitalna knjižnica Slovenije – dLib.si|website=Dlib.si|accessdate=30 July 2017}}</ref> and ''Hannibal at the Gates'' (1908).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dlib.si/details/URN:NBN:SI:doc-XX45U7MP|title=Digitalna knjižnica Slovenije – dLib.si|website=Ddlib.si|accessdate=30 July 2017}}</ref> His large carved-wood relief ''Z Doma'' (or ''Far from Home'', 1908)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dlib.si/details/URN:NBN:SI:doc-FM09K7XW|title=Digitalna knjižnica Slovenije – dLib.si|website=Dlib.si|accessdate=30 July 2017}}</ref> was a sentimental self-portrait framed in branches and leaves.
In 1914, Urbania began but never finished the gigantic plaster figures ''Spring and Effort'' (also called ''Water and Electricity'') for the cancelled Provincial House in Ljubljana (the plasters are currently disassembled in the National Gallery). His figure ''Passages of the Danube'' was commissioned for the Michaelerplatz, in Vienna, but was removed during WWII and is now missing.
thumb|Joseph Urbania: ''Hannibal at the Gates'' (1908)
A devout Roman Catholic, Urbania was best known for the sculptures he created for cathedrals and monasteries. Two monumental plaster reliefs – ''Christ Healing'' and ''Daniel in the Lion’s Den'' – were later moved to the National Gallery of Slovenia in Ljubljana. Small bronze copies of these popular pieces occasionally appear for public sale.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/brunk/catalogue-id-brunk-10001/lot-dcafbe85-bae8-4ac8-ab2e-a53700fbfec8|title=(20th century) Two Biblical Scenes: Christ Healing and Daniel and the Lions Den, signed both sign|website=The-saleroom.com|date=7 November 2015 |accessdate=30 July 2017}}</ref> Other religious-themed pieces include: a maple wood carving of ''Christus Ascending'' (1931, now in Kenosha, Wisconsin);<ref>{{cite web|url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Christus_Ascending.jpg|title=English: A carved image of the ''Christus Ascending'' in maple wood, 1931|date=30 July 2017|website=Commons.wikimedia.org|accessdate=30 July 2017|via=Wikimedia Commons}}</ref><ref name="wikimedia.org">{{cite web|url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Urbania|title=Joseph Urbania – Wikimedia Commons|website=Commons.wikimedia.org|accessdate=30 July 2017}}</ref> several marble statues at the Parish Church of St. Elisabeth, including ''Immaculata and Two Cherubim'' (with sculptor Alojzij Progar);<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slovenska-biografija.si/oseba/sbi472071/|title=Progar, Alojzij (1857–1918) – Slovenska biografija|website=Slovenska-biografija.si|accessdate=30 July 2017}}</ref> ''St. Hubertus'' (1909) and ''St. Anthony and Child'' (1934);<ref>{{cite web|url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:St._Elisabeth-Kirche_(Wien-Wieden)|title=Category:St. Elisabeth-Kirche (Wien-Wieden) – Wikimedia Commons|website=Commons.wikimedia.org|accessdate=30 July 2017}}</ref> and an important burial chapel piece called ''Resurrection'' (1910, made by the artists' group at the Grošlje Workshop for a burial chapel in Škofja Loka), sometimes credited as the sole work of Ivan Zajec.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://euparky.eu/Slovenia/UpperCarniola/Kranj/KranjHistoryculture.aspx|title=Kranj – History & culture|website=Euparky.eu|accessdate=30 July 2017|archive-date=27 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170627215057/http://euparky.eu/Slovenia/UpperCarniola/Kranj/KranjHistoryculture.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>
thumb|left|Joseph Urbania: ''Christus Ascending'' (1931) Other statues and reliefs include: ''The Carrier of the Vase'' (1909); ''Absolvo Te'' (1910);<ref>{{cite web|url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Josip_Urbanija_-_Absolvo_te_1910.jpg|title=Slovenščina: Absolvo te|date=30 July 2017|website=Commons.wikimedia.org|accessdate=30 July 2017|via=Wikimedia Commons}}</ref> ''Rokoborca'' (''The Wrestlers'') in 1913;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Urbanija_-_Rokoborca.jpg|title=Slovenščina: Rokoborca|date=30 July 2017|website=Commons.wikimedia.org|accessdate=30 July 2017|via=Wikimedia Commons}}</ref> ''Danica-Zarji'' (1913); ''Sejalec'' (1914); ''Monument to the Fallen'' (WWI Soldiers Cemetery in Sarajevo) in 1918; a carved wood statue ''In Nature (Flying Left)'' in 1922; a marble ''Holy Family'' (1926 – now in Chicago); ''Turn'' (1930); a bronze figure ''Girl with Grapes and Bear'' (1935);<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.artnet.com/artists/joseph-urbania/dancing-girl-balancing-on-a-bear-J-1gV8StvGPpRkjgjSdMVA2|title=Dancing girl balancing on a bear by JosephUrbania|website=Artnet.com|accessdate=30 July 2017}}</ref> and a pear wood carved ''Mother (Ladies with a Child)'' in 1939.<ref name="auto"/>
thumb|left|upright|Joseph Urbania: ''Christus Ascending'' (1931) as it appeared in the home of Oscar U. Zerk in 1945 Completing a portion of his work as part of an unsigned team of artists at the Grošelj Workshop in Ljubljana<ref>{{cite web|url=http://vanderkrogt.net/statues/object.php?webpage=ST&record=si060|title=Ljubljana – Kipi svetnikov in škofje na ljubljanski stolnici|website=Vanderkrogt.net|accessdate=30 July 2017}}</ref> Urbania's contributions stand out nonetheless for the vividness of his figures, the stunning naturalism, the realism of the human body, plainly beautiful faces, idealized branches and leaves, and exaggerated emotion, which can be seen in all his subsequent work. His unsigned reliefs and statues – at St. Mohor and Fortunat Cathedral in Groblje pri Prekopi [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Interior_of_St_Mohor_%26_Fortunat_church_in_Groblje,_Slovenia.jpg], ''Angels on the Great Altar'' in the Ljubljana Cathedral at St. Cyril and Methodius Square, and ''Mother of God with St. Dominic and Rosary'' (1906) at Loško Potok<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dlib.si/details/URN:NBN:SI:DOC-GZRHZ8JC/?euapi=1&query='keywords=mati+bo%C5%BEja+sv.+ro%C5%BEnega+venca.+sv.+dominik+in+roza+limanska'&pageSize=25|title=Digitalna knjižnica Slovenije – dLib.si|website=Dlib.si|accessdate=30 July 2017}}</ref> – were all created by Urbania as the lead sculptor in the Groblje pri Prekopi Workshop.
Urbania's ''Christus Ascending'' was featured<ref name="wikimedia.org"/> in the home of wealthy American Industrialist Oscar U. Zerk. The 1931 white maple carved work became internationally famous in 1954, when thieves broke into Zerk's Wisconsin mansion and stole more than $200,000 worth of paintings, gems and art. The thieves were captured by the FBI, and the art returned.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/usa/chicago-sun-times/20081204/281814279718165|title=|via=PressReader|accessdate=30 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zerkovitz.hu/ausztriaiaag.htm|title=Untitled Document|website=Zerkovitz.hu|accessdate=30 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pinterest.com/pin/296533956689796294/|title=Kenosha, WI|website=Pinterest|accessdate=30 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://framingbusiness.net/archives/1773|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130221131150/http://framingbusiness.net/archives/1773|url-status=dead|title=The Framing Business » Rise of the Milwaukee Mafia, 1892-1961|date=21 February 2013|archivedate=21 February 2013|website=Archive.is|accessdate=30 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=SBS19540210.1.27|title=San Bernardino Sun 10 February 1954 — California Digital Newspaper Collection|website=Cdnc.ucr.edu|accessdate=30 July 2017}}</ref>
==Commentary== thumb|Joseph Urbania: ''Potop'' (1913) Reviews of exhibitions may be found in the ''Slovenska biografija'':<ref name="auto"/> ''The Last Battle'', 1905 (Lj., See DS 1905, 325; S 1905, No. 39, 67; SN 1905, No. 68; LZ 1906, 383); ''Z Doma'', 1908 (painter in Vienna, see S 1908, No. 119); ''The Carrier of the Vase'', 1909 (ib., See S 1909, No. 160); ''Hanibal Ante Portas'' and ''Sv. Hubertus'', 1909 (both on the first art exhibition in Jp.).
According to the ''Slovenian Biographical Lexicon'',<ref name="auto"/> Urbania's contemporaries described his work (see V. Levstik, LZ 1909, 528,<ref name="auto"/> as "possessing a happy warmth and homey simplicity, although the technique is well-schooled and immaculate." Still others (F. Kozak in connection with the Krekov monument's draft, LZ 1918, 295),<ref name="auto"/> argued, "much of his art is idealized and depicted in a kind of modern Baroque and poetic realism." More critically, some considered his work "old-fashioned" (S. Mikuž, Um 1939/40, 10-5), and some said, "he blushed between folk art and visions of great pathos, although his talent was not up to date."<ref name="auto"/> thumb|upright|Joseph Urbania: ''Rokoborca'' (''The Wrestlers'') (1913)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.biographien.ac.at/oebl/oebl_U/Urbanija_Josip_1877_1943.xml Austrian Biographical Lexicon] *[http://www.slovenska-biografija.si/oseba/sbi749037/ Slovenian Biographical Lexicon] *[https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Josip_Urbanija Joseph Urbania art images] *[https://www.dlib.si/results/?query=%27contributor=Urbanija%2C+Josip+(Josip%2C+Vrbanija)%27&pageSize=25 Digital Library of Slovenia – Joseph Urbania entry] *[https://www.dlib.si/results/?query=%27contributor=Urbanija%2C+Josip+(J.vrbanija)%27&pageSize=25 Digital Library of Slovenia – Josip Vrbanjia entry] *[https://www.europeana.eu/portal/en/search?q=urbanija Joseph Urbania in The Europeana Collections] *[https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/slovene-impressionists-and-their-time-1890-1920 Curated Slovenian National Gallery discussion of Joseph Urbania] *[http://www.dlib.si/stream/URN:NBN:SI:DOC-KITIN13R/62a6b3dd-9094-447e-8b02-55c01652a17d/TEXT Text of the Slovenian National Gallery Museum Guide] *[http://www.dlib.si/stream/URN:NBN:SI:DOC-H66ADDZK/51405d1d-9ca7-4ad3-9603-51212ddbc19b/PDF A 2005 Magazine Article (page 117) about Josip Groselj and Josip Vrbanija]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Urbania, Joseph}} Category:1877 births Category:1943 deaths Category:Artists from Ljubljana Category:Academy of Fine Arts Vienna alumni Category:20th-century Slovenian sculptors Category:20th-century Slovenian male artists Category:Members of the Vienna Secession Category:Austrian sculptors Category:Sculptors from Austria-Hungary