Joseph Urban

New York: Abrams, 2010. First Printing [Stated]. Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good. Seiji Kakizaki (author photograph). The format is approximately 9.75 inches by 11.25 inches. 224 pages. Illustrated endpapers. Foreword by Jennifer B. Lee, Illustrations/Plates (most in color). Index. John Loring, (born November 23, 1939), is design director emeritus of Tiffany & Co., where he was design director from 1979 to 2009. He is the author of numerous books about Tiffany's and art in general and a longtime contributor to Architectural Digest. Prior to joining Tiffany in 1979 as design director, Loring was the New York bureau chief of Architectural Digest, as well as being one of the magazine's principal editorial contributors. He was also a professor of art at the graduate school of the University of California. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature from Yale University in 1960. After graduating, he continued his studies for four more years at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris. Since 1964, his prints and paintings have been exhibited in Europe and the United States. Loring continues to write on art and design. He serves on the Acquisitions Committee of The Museum of Modern Art's Department of Prints and Illustrated Books. His interests in cooking and interior design have been recognized in major publications, including The New York Times Magazine, Bon Appetit, Food and Wine, Architectural Digest, House & Garden, L'Oeil, Arbitare, GQ, House Beautiful, Metropolitan Home, Gala, The New Yorker and French Vogue. He was honored with the feature profile in The New Yorker (August 10, 1992). Joseph Urban is a lavish celebration of this prolific artist, architect, and designer, whose accomplishments include magnificent Art Deco buildings, spectacular Ziegfeld Follies productions, and dramatic sets for the Metropolitan Opera. Joseph Urban (1872-1933) began his career as an architect and artist in Vienna before moving to America in 1911. In 1914 he moved to New York, where he ultimately signed on as set designer of the Metropolitan Opera. He also became immersed in an astonishing array of outside projects, designing nightclubs, hotel lounges, skyscrapers, theaters, stage and film sets, and even children's books. Though his creative output was immense, little remains of his work except the Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, and the New School and the base of the Hearst Tower in New York. Joseph Urban (May 26, 1872 - July 10, 1933) was an Austrian-American architect, illustrator, and scenic designer. Joseph Urban was born on May 26, 1872, in Vienna. He received his first architectural commission at age 19 when he was selected to design the new wing of the Abdin Palace in Cairo by Tewfik Pasha. He became known around the world for his innovative use of color, his pointillist technique, and his decorative use of line. He designed buildings throughout the world from Esterhazy Castle in Hungary to the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York. Urban studied architecture at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna under Karl von Hasenauer. In 1890, he and his brother-in-law, Heinrich Lefler, were among the founders of the Hagenbund. Urban's early work with illustrated books was inspired by Lefler and, together, they created what are considered seminal examples of children's book illustration. Urban immigrated to the United States in 1911 to become the art director of the Boston Opera Company. He was already an accomplished international architect, illustrator and theatre set designer with over 50 productions from his home Vienna Royal Opera, the Champs Elysée Opera, and Covent Garden. By applying points of primary colors side by side on the canvas backdrops he was able to create and light theatre sets of vivid color reminiscent of the works by Monet or Seurat. In 1914 he moved to New York City, where he designed productions for the Metropolitan Opera and the Ziegfeld Follies; he continued to design for Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. until 1931. William Randolph Hearst was an important client and supporter.
Beginning in 1917, he was frequently engaged as stage designer by the Metropolitan Opera of New York City. In all he created set designs for 47 new productions at the house through 1933. His many designs provided the opera company with a cohesive production style throughout the tenure of General Manager Giulio Gatti-Casazza. Many of Urban's settings remained in the company's repertoire into the 1950s. Urban went to work creating a stunning night-club with glass balconies, a moving stage, and rainbow lighting effects. Urban was one of the originators of the American Art Deco style. Most of his architectural work in the United States has been demolished. Extant buildings include the Mar-a-Lago, The Bath and Tennis Club and The Paramount Theater all in Palm Beach, Florida; The New School building in New York City; and the base of the Hearst Tower in New York City.