Rudolf Schmidt

Austrian Rudolf Schmidt worked as a sculptor, art historian and professor of art education at the Academy of Fine Arts in Wien (Vienna). He first completed an apprenticeship as gemstone engraver and then studied sculpture in Wien under Otto Hofner and later Josef Müllner. In 1923, Schmidt became a member of the Künstlerhaus Wien. He created numerous large sculptures, such as the Hannakenbrunnen in Wien in 1937. Schmidt also produced many medals, such as the Commemorative Medal for the 100th anniversary of the Association for the History of the City of Wien in 1953, and the 1954 Austrian Olympic medal. He also published the first volume of the Österreichisches Künstlerlexikon (A-D), with no further volumes published. He died in the Vienna neighborhood of Rodaun. His daughter Niki became a graphic artist.

The Olympic Mark consisted of 12 single reliefs in the size 45 × 45 cm, representing the sports javelin throwing, gymnastics, swimming, relay race, high jump, running, fencing, riding, boxing, discus throwing, wrestling and shot put, the Olympic rings, and the motto “Citius, Altius, Fortius”. The altogether 2 m high and 1.5 m wide work was carried out in the alloy Silumin and bought for the Wien Museum in 1944.