Austrian sculptor Ferdinand Opitz studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Praha. From 1906-09 he travelled frequently to Germany, Italy, Egypt, Paris, London and Switzerland, living in Wien (Vienna) from 1909 onwards. After serving in the military in World War I, he became a member of the Künstlerhaus in 1922. In 1933-45 he was professor and director of the Sculpture Class at the Academy of Applied Arts in Wien. He mostly created architectural sculptures for art collections and council housing in Wien as well as war memorials, the designs for which he was awarded several times. The Shot-putter is a figure from oak wood. The two figures Hubertus and Diana were produced for the Augarten porcelain manufactory. The designs date back to 1934. The figures are made of glazed white porcelain and are 38.5 in height.
Austria