Walter Koschatzky (b. 17 August 1921 in Graz, Styria, d. 9 May 2003 in

Vienna en, Viennese , iso_code = AT-9 , registration_plate = W , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = , timezone = CET , utc_offset = +1 , timezone_DST ...

) was an Austrian art historian, curator and art history author.

Personal life

Koschatzky attended the Realgymnasiums Bundeserziehungsanstalt Liebenau, in Graz, until 1936 when he moved to the Military Middle School, also in Liebenau. Between 1940 and 1945 he served in the German armed forces. In 1945 he commenced studies in art history, archeology, history and philosophy at the

University of Graz The University of Graz (german: link=no, Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, ), located in Graz, Austria, is the largest and oldest university in Styria, as well as the second-largest and second-oldest university in Austria. History The univers ...

and graduated in 1952. He had financed his studies with a jazz ensemble, working for the British military broadcasters (''britischen Besatzungsmacht betriebene Sendergruppe Alpenland'') and the Styrian Provincial Theatre. Koschatzky married Trude Caroline Bauer in March 1948; she died in July 1994. On 15 July 1996, he married Gabriela Elias, an Austrian author, museum curator and cultural journalist. Walter Koschatzky was buried in

Hietzinger Cemetery The Hietzing Cemetery is a cemetery in Hietzing, the 13th district of Vienna. Notable burials (selection) * Alban Berg (1885–1935), composer * Jean-Baptiste Clery (1759–1809), valet to King Louis XVI * Franz Conrad von Hötzendorf (1852 ...

in Vienna.

Career

In 1953, Koschatzky joined the Office of the Styrian Government, and moved in 1955 to the Neue Galerie at the

Universalmuseum Joanneum The Universalmuseum Joanneum is a multidisciplinary museum with buildings in several locations in the province of Styria, Austria. It has galleries and collections in many subject areas including archaeology, geology, paleontology, mineralogy, b ...

in Graz where he worked from 1956 to 1961 as a director. He produced acclaimed art exhibitions, art discussions, lecture series on the radio, art walks in Graz, art tours and activities in public education; he was an eloquent expert on the arts. In 1961, he succeeded

Otto Benesch Otto Benesch (29 June 1896 in Ebenfurth – 16 November 1964 in Vienna) was an Austrian art historian. He was taught by Max Dvořák and is considered a member of the Vienna School of Art History. He is well known for his catalogue of Rembran ...

as director of the

Albertina The Albertina is a museum in the Innere Stadt (First District) of Vienna, Austria. It houses one of the largest and most important print rooms in the world with approximately 65,000 drawings and approximately 1 million old master prints, as well ...

ago as his successor. From 1 January 1962 to 1 October 1986 he was appointed, by Minister of Education Henry Drimmel, as director of the collection of Prints and Drawings at the

in Vienna. During his term, there were more than 200 exhibitions; Koschatzky was one of the most famous directors of museums in Vienna. The list of exhibitions held during his term as director began in 1962 with Gustav Klimt (celebrating Klimt's 100th birthday). Koschatzky curated 100 exhibitions outside the Albertina, including important ones in foreign countries. In 1972, there were exhibitions of important drawings from the Albertina in

Moscow Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 millio ...

and

Leningrad Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...

; in 1985 in

Washington DC ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

and in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...

. In 1986, Koschatzky presented European draftsmanship in

Beijing } Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...

. He continued to produce exhibitions after he had retired. Koschatzky participated in television programmes about artists. Between 1973 and 1989, he taught at the Universities of

Vienna en, Viennese , iso_code = AT-9 , registration_plate = W , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = , timezone = CET , utc_offset = +1 , timezone_DST ...

and

Salzburg Salzburg (, ; literally "Salt-Castle"; bar, Soizbuag, label= Austro-Bavarian) is the fourth-largest city in Austria. In 2020, it had a population of 156,872. The town is on the site of the Roman settlement of ''Iuvavum''. Salzburg was founded ...

Partial bibliography

Koschatzky wrote numerous works on art history, including: : ''Die Albertina in Wien'' (''The Albertina in Vienna'') (with Alice Strobl; 1959) : ''Anton Lehmden'' (1970) : ''Die Kunst der Graphik. Technik, Geschichte, Meisterwerke'' (''The art of the Graphic. Technology, History, Masterpieces'') (1972, Taschenbuch 1975) : Rudolf von Alt 1812–1905 (1975; significantly expanded edition in 2001 with his second wife Gabriela Koschatzky Elias) : ''Mit Nadel und Säure'' (''With needle and acid'') (1982) : ''Die Kunst von Stein'' (''The Art of Stone'') (with Kristian Sotriffer; 1985) In 2001, Koschatzky published his autobiography, ''Faszination Kunst''.

Decorations and awards

Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art, 1st class The Austrian Decoration for Science and Art (german: Österreichisches Ehrenzeichen für Wissenschaft und Kunst) is a state decoration of the Republic of Austria and forms part of the Austrian national honours system. History The "Austrian D ...

(1977) *

Grand Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria The Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria (german: Ehrenzeichen für Verdienste um die Republik Österreich) is a state decoration of the Republic of Austria. It is divided into 15 classes and is the highest award in the A ...

(1983) * Commander of the

Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav Royal may refer to: People * Royal (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name * A member of a royal family Places United States * Royal, Arkansas, an unincorporated community * Royal, Illinois, a village * Royal, Iowa, a ci ...

(1967) * Commander of the

Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

(1969) * Commander of the Order of the Crown (Belgium) (1971) * Great Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (1979) * Commander of the

Order of the Polar Star The Royal Order of the Polar Star ( Swedish: ''Kungliga Nordstjärneorden'') is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I on 23 February 1748, together with the Order of the Sword and the Order of the Seraphim. The Order of t ...

, 1st class (Sweden, 1980) * Gold Honorary Medal of Vienna (1981) * Grand Golden Decoration of Styria (1981) * Honorary Ring of Styria (1996) * Honorary Ring of the city of Graz (2002)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Koschatzky, Walter 1921 births 2003 deaths Writers from Graz Austrian art historians Recipients of the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art, 1st class Recipients of the Grand Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria Honorary Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Commanders of the Order of the Crown (Belgium) Commanders Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Commanders First Class of the Order of the Polar Star