Otto Wagner Artwork valuations, appraisals and auction estimates

Otto Koloman Wagner   ( Vienna ,   July 13th   1841   –   Vienna ,   April 11th   1918 ) was a   architect   And   urban planner   Austrian .

He initially began working for private residences and rental homes. His notoriety came with the task of organizing the processions for the silver wedding (1879) of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth “Sissi” and the wedding of Belgian Princess Stephanie to Prince Rudolf.

What distinguishes Wagner is his concept of unifying   monumentality and functionality : that is, bringing together the majesty of historical styles and the needs of the modern era. Read the full biography

Otto Wagner Biography

Otto Koloman Wagner   ( Vienna ,   July 13th   1841   –   Vienna ,   April 11th   1918 ) was a   architect   And   urban planner   Austrian .

He initially began working for private residences and rental homes. His notoriety came with the task of organizing the processions for the silver wedding (1879) of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth “Sissi” and the wedding of Belgian Princess Stephanie to Prince Rudolf.

What distinguishes Wagner is his concept of unifying   monumentality and functionality : that is, bringing together the majesty of historical styles and the needs of the modern era. His idea can be seen in the Osterreichische Landerbank in Vienna. When he began his teaching career at the end of the 19th century, Wagner also became the author of the well-known writing " Modern Architecture ", a sort of guide for his students where the principle applies that "something that is not also functional cannot be beautiful". A principle that he then applies in his works, including the Vienna metro.

Wagner joined the Viennese Secession, an anti-academic movement that arose in opposition to the traditionalists of the Kunstlerhaus, a membership that saw him alongside his friend Gustav Klimt and, as we have said, he was in part a precursor. The conviction of some principles that he puts into practice in his projects becomes increasingly stronger, namely   simplicity and functionality , a useful and innovative style, increasingly oriented towards the future than the past, using new and original materials and technologies. Among the works of this period are the church St. Leopold am Steinhof, the never-realized projects of the Peace Palace in The Hague and the House of Glory in Washington. He then returned to early career jobs such as renting houses. One of his latest works is, however, the Church of Peace in Vienna, which he himself defined as one of the best.