Rediscovered works of Josephu

My grandfather, Josef Josephu, was born February 12, 1889, in Vienna, Austria. His family traces far back to French noblemen. François Josephi, born in Paris, November 4, 1577, was known as the “Gray Eminence.” As a reward for his service to Cardinal Richelieu he was made a baron. It was Richelieu who designed the family crest: a black merle on a gold shield. On his maternal side, Josephu traces back to Antoine Drouot, born in Nancy, France, January 11, 1774. For his service to the crown, Antoine was made a count by Napoleon and later served as governor of Elbe Island. The families eventually moved to Austria; Antoine's daughter was Josef's grandmother.

Josef -- and his elder brother, Florian Josephu-Drouot -- studied at the Department of Sculpture of the Municipal Trade school in Graz (now called the Ortweinschule) and later at the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts. Josef later studied with professors Hellmar, Bitterlich, Hans Brandstetter and Georg Winkler. Florian and Josef had very different opinions on art and often disagreed. They did, however, work on one sculpture together.

Josef received a serious head wound in 1916 while in battle in Italy during World War I . After surgery, and a long recovery, Josef met and Married Olga Kohn in 1918, and went on to complete his studies in 1919, the same year Micaela, his only child, was born. His most prolific period was 1919-1939. He was friends with composer Emerich Kalman and sculpted Kalman's bust and Paula Kalman’s memorial (Emerich’s first wife).

In September of 1939, with the onset of World War II, Josephu fled to the United States where he continued to work. Florian fled to Yugoslavia, and later returned to Vienna in 1946. It was Florian that restored the Mozart Memorial with St. Marx’s Cemetery of Vienna in 1950. Josef continued to work in New York until his death in 1970. While; his body of American work included statues, memorials, coins and Herbert Dubler figurines (similar to Hummels). One of Joseph’s ‘hummels’ was featured in the 1944 film Since You Went Away with Joseph Cotton.

Today, there are over 17 pieces of Josef Josephu still standing in Vienna, including Zuflucht (Fountain of Refuge), St. Anthony, located within Karlskirche, a bust of radiology pioneer Guido Holzknecht at Arne Carlsson Park, The Holy Trinity at the St. Hubert Church, Lainz, the Kriegerdenkmal in Zisterdorf, St. Francis of Assisi in front of the new Tierschitzhaus in Vösendorf, the Kriegerdenkmal in St. Andrä-Wördern, and his most notable, St. Florian, now inside the Firehouse Museum of Vienna. St. Florian became the model for a series of enameled coins released on Sept. 11, 2002, to raise funds for firefighter charities. Go to St. Florian Coins to see more or to order. Josephu pieces are located all over the world, most recently turning up in Buenos Aries, Argentina, Switzerland and in Australia...and even on eBay!

For a free detailed biography, which includes locations and photos of works of both Josef and Florian, contact Josef’s grandson and biographer, Marc Baron.

Five Josef Josephu bronze reproductions are available in a
limited series of 7 to 75. They are meticulously crafted and
have been awarded the Silver Medallion - Excalibur Bronze's
seal of high-quality. Follow the links below to view these bronzes.

Viennese sculptors bronze scultpures art deco sculptures josephuu austiran sculptors austrian artists