Hans Ranzoni

Hans Ranzoni the Elder was the son of Emerich Ranzoni (1823-1898), an art critic and writer. Hans studied in Wien (Vienna) at the School of Arts and Crafts and the Academy of Fine Arts before he moved to München in 1891. He briefly joined the Künstlerhaus in 1900 and was a member of the Hagenbund from 1900 to 1907. After returning to the Künstlerhaus, Ranzoni served as its President from 1919-21 and again from 1929-37. During the era of the Federal State of Austria, he served on the Federal Cultural Council from 1934-38 and on the Art Advisory Board of the City of Vienna. Following the Anschluss of Austria into Nazi Germany, he was replaced in various functions by Leopold Blauensteiner (1880-1947).

Hans Ranzoni lived in Dürnstein after 1944 and campaigned for the architectural preservation of the town. Ranzoni created predominantly genre paintings, architectural studies, and landscapes. His son, Hans Ranzoni the Younger (1896–1991), was a graphic artist known particularly for his ex libris and postage stamps.