Josef Müllner

Austrian sculptor Josef Müllner studied from 1896-1902 at the Wien (Vienna) Academy of Fine Arts. From 1906-11 he was a member of the Vienna Secession, but in 1912 moved to the Vienna Künstlerhaus. He was named professor from 1910-48 at the Wien (Vienna) Academy of Fine Arts, and was a rector from 1926-28, retiring in 1948.

Müllner worked in a neoclassical style and his extensive work depicted a wide variety of subjects including reliefs, busts, war memorials, etc. corresponding to the needs for representation of the expiring monarchy. He stood up to the Nazis without significant modifications, but Müllner’s art works are today highly controversial because of his support of the Nazi’s in the 1938-45 era. He himself never denied his pro-German feelings.