Joseph Maria Olbrich Artwork valuations, appraisals and auction estimates

Joseph Maria Olbrich, born in Troppau on 22 December 1867, studied architecture in Vienna first at the School of Arts and Crafts and then at the Academy of Fine Arts, from 1890 to 1893, the year in which he moved to work in the studio of the architect Otto Wagner, his professor at the Academy. He won the Prix de Rome during his student years. Read the full biography

Joseph Maria Olbrich, born in Troppau on 22 December 1867, studied architecture in Vienna first at the School of Arts and Crafts and then at the Academy of Fine Arts, from 1890 to 1893, the year in which he moved to work in the studio of the architect Otto Wagner, his professor at the Academy. He won the Prix de Rome during his student years. In 1893, he joined Otto Wagner's office to help him design the Viennese station buildings. In 1897, Olbrich took part in the group of artists around Gustav Klimt. He designed the exhibition building of the Vienna Secession, considered one of the best examples of Art Nouveau architecture. In 1899, Olbrich moved to Darmstadt at the invitation of the patron Grand Duke Ernst Lodewijk, to join the artists' colony. In 1905, he designed one of the most beautiful buildings in the area: the Wedding Tower, erected as a gift from the city on the occasion of the Grand Duke's wedding. In 1908, Olbrich finished the last major project, the Tietz department store on Königsallee in Düsseldorf; he also designed the interiors, but was unable to complete them as he died on 8 August 1908 at the age of 40 due to leukemia.