Joseph Urban biography
Date of birth : 1872-05-26
Date of death : 1933-07-10
Birthplace : Vienna, Austria
Nationality : Austrian
Category : Arhitecture and Engineering
Last modified : 2012-01-19
Credited as : architect, known for his theatrical design, work with illustrated books
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Urban's early work with illustrated books arose from his collaboration with his brother-in-law, Heinrich Lefler (1863–1919) and the pair contributed to what are considered seminal works in children's illustrated books, including:
-Grimm's Marchen (1905);
-Kling-Klang Gloria (1907);
-Andersen Kalender (1911);
-Marienkind (1914).
Urban immigrated to the United States in 1912 to become the art director of the Boston Opera Company. Two years later he moved to New York where he designed productions for the Ziegfeld Follies and the Metropolitan Opera. William Randolph Hearst was an important client and supporter. Most of Urban's architectural work in the United States has been demolished, with the exceptions of Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida and The New School and the base of The Hearst Tower in New York City. The color gel Urban Blue (Roscolux #81) is named for him.
