New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-17
MR. URBAN OF THE FOLLIES

vice. The other was the progress
which young Urban had already made
in his professionalism of architect.
His work in the Academy of Fine Arts,
where he studied architecture from the
angle of design, and in the Polytech-
mic, where he learned the scientific and
structural side, had already brought
him high in the favor of the president
of the academy, Baron Hasenauer. The
baron was d practising architect as
we'll as an instructor; he had built
the bulk of the imperial buildings of
his period, and in his work he had
utilized the services of Urban in minor
capacities, When Baron Hasenauer
heard of the parental veto and the
boys rebellion he secured a scholar
shin for Urban at the schools and gave
him more work in mis- architectural
studios.
To Baron Hasensucr Joseph Urban
and all the brilliant school Of artists,
architects and decorators of that pc
riod in Vienna feel that they owe
their success in the establishment OF
that distinctive new note which has
stood for Austrian art to the world.
Hasonaucr was himself an artist Of
the accepted school, but in his in
, struction he cultivated the greatest
freedom of conception among his pu-
pills. He combined practically and
bold liberalism TO an astonishing de-
gree. Every summer his pupils had TO
work on actual construction--from lay
ing chimneys to experimenting decora-
tion-or they could not be his pupils
in tho fall. He set no examinations
/ either Cor entry or graduation. To be
gin with. man had TO come and work
in the academy for a week, making
whatever he chose. If it was good
thing when finished Hasenauer took
: him in. His diploma depended on an
/ other piece of work just as freely con-
| ceivcd and executed.
The baron had quite as astonishing
a way of setting tasks. He would give
the advanced pupil a description Of a
supposed patron-"middle-aged, I'M
married. fond of racehorses, has d
grandmother living with him." Thcr
+ the pupil would have TO design a house
. that allowed for all those things.
Along toward tho end of Crbans
schooling Hascnaucr set him task
F that is more than indicative OF the
lire Urban ultimately took. He asked
f him TO design pavilions for the re-
ccption, housing and feeding and meet
ings OF a world conference of rulers
the King of England, the Car of Rus
STA, the President OF France, the Kai-
ser and the Emperor Of Austria-Hun-
gary. Everything from a conference
I hall 20 the kitchens had 20 be thought
out; the rctnues Of the rulers had 20
be estimated and housed.
Hssenauer's final service to Urban
was a proper climax 60 what had gone
before. The young Khedivc of Egypt,
who until his fathers death had been
J living in Vienna at school. pinned for
the Austrian touch amid the Oriental
glories OF Cairo. He accordingly wrote
Baron Hssenauer for decorator 70
rcmakc the interior Of the Abdin Pal
ace and completely rcfurnish it. Hasc-
nauor took Urban out of his last year
at the Academy and turned his JOB over
10 him. Urban was twenty-threc when
ne found himself drinking Austrian
beer with the young Khedivc, acquir-
ing his present stupendous fondncss
for Turkish cigarettes and bringing
Occidental art into a royal Egyptian
palace.
when Urban returned TO Vienna and
the academy Hascnauer was dead and
q new man IN his place He, too, had
a busy studio. and. being a practical
man but not an artist. he engaged
clever students like Urban to do what
he couldn't do himself. For eight or
ten months Urban was the chief OF the
artistic STAFF OF the studio.
Then came commissions OF his own.
In the next few years he built, deco
. rated and furnished great number Of
4 handsome houses IN the cnvirons Of
+ Vienna. In 1900 when Part nouyeau"
vas raging, he designed castle for
the Estcrhazys in Hungary that won a