A Munich Legend: Art Dealer Georg Urban (1928-2021)
In memory of a great Munich art dealer, the art and culture blog is republishing this interview: Georg Urban - 66 Years of Art Dealing in the Heart of Munich - A Passion for Collecting and a Love of Art
In 2014, I conducted the following interview with the art dealer and philanthropist Georg Urban. He was truly a lovable, warm-hearted, and helpful person... one fondly remembers ;-) ;-) ... Here is the original text from 2014: (Deutsch, Italiano, English, Français)
This year (2014), art dealer Georg Urban celebrated his 66th professional anniversary. For almost 67 years, the specialist in sculptures from the Gothic to the Baroque period (13th-18th centuries) has remained a trusted resource for collectors, museums, and colleagues. His sculptures became known to a wider circle of collectors through numerous art fairs, in which the company participated repeatedly over the decades. The provenance "Georg Urban, Munich" can be found in many important collections worldwide.
Interview conducted by Dr. Helga Waess
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| Georg Urban participated with his business in the
major art fair Munich Highlights - here in front of his shop on
Prannerstrasse in Munich, photo: Helga Waess (Pressefotoarchiv) |
As reliable as a Swiss watch, Georg Urban, at 86 years old, still stands in his shop every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The shop resembles a baroque treasure chest. He personally visits collectors and monasteries, offers consultations even on weekends, and until October 2008, he also participated in international art fairs and the "Munich Highlights" art fair.
We met him in his shop at the rear of the Hotel Bayerischer Hof in Munich.
Mr. Urban, how did you come to art?
In my hometown, I used to climb up to the Gartlberg with my grandmother as a child. It's a pilgrimage church above Pfarrkirchen. That's where I grew up. I admired the beautiful altars in that church. And from then on, I was fascinated by sacred sculpture.
Why are you so passionate about art?
Because all these sculptures—angels, Madonnas, and saints—weren't simply carved by the artists; every sculptor also needed a spiritual dimension. He needed the spirit to connect the image of the divine with the human.
I'm a dealer who doesn't just see artworks as commodities, but also senses their soul—the soul that the sculptor poured into his work in his time.
When and where did you found your art business?
It was in the spring 66 years ago, shortly after the currency reform, in my hometown of Pfarrkirchen. I was 20 years old at the time.
Why did you focus on antiques?
I focused on sculptures because every work of art possesses something unique. When I touch or look at a sculpture, I can already feel the artist's spirit. It's always been that way.
It's almost a gift from heaven that in all my dealings I haven't bought a single piece that wasn't from that era.
Pourquoi êtes-vous si passionné par l'art ?
Parce que toutes ces sculptures – anges, Madones et saints – n'ont pas été simplement sculptées par les artistes ; chaque sculpteur avait aussi besoin d'une dimension spirituelle. Il lui fallait l'esprit pour relier l'image du divin à l'humain.
Je suis marchand d'art et je ne considère pas les œuvres d'art comme de simples marchandises, mais je perçois aussi leur âme – l'âme que le sculpteur a insufflée à son œuvre en son temps.
Quand et où avez-vous créé votre commerce d'art ?
C'était au printemps, il y a 66 ans, peu après la réforme monétaire, dans ma ville natale de Pfarrkirchen. J'avais 20 ans à l'époque.
Pourquoi vous êtes-vous spécialisé dans les antiquités ?
Je me suis spécialisé dans les sculptures parce que chaque œuvre d'art possède quelque chose d'unique. Quand je touche ou que je regarde une sculpture, je peux déjà ressentir l'esprit de l'artiste. Il en a toujours été ainsi.
C'est presque un don du ciel que, dans toutes mes transactions, je n'aie acheté aucune pièce qui ne date pas de cette époque.
Why are you so passionate about art?
Because all these sculptures—angels, Madonnas, and saints—weren't simply carved by the artists; every sculptor also needed a spiritual dimension. He needed the spirit to connect the image of the divine with the human.
I'm a dealer who doesn't just see artworks as commodities, but also senses their soul—the soul that the sculptor poured into his work in his time.
When and where did you found your art business?
It was in the spring 66 years ago, shortly after the currency reform, in my hometown of Pfarrkirchen. I was 20 years old at the time.
Why did you focus on antiques?
I focused on sculptures because every work of art possesses something unique. When I touch or look at a sculpture, I can already feel the artist's spirit. It's always been that way.
It's almost a gift from heaven that in all my dealings I haven't bought a single piece that wasn't from that era.
What fascinates you about Christian art, or rather, the objects you deal in?
It's always the artists' talent.
Can you give us some examples?
A wonderful purchase was three Ignaz Günther angels, two girls and a boy, whose expressions and physicality immediately suggested that the artist might have portrayed his own children.
I'd also like to mention an altarpiece I found in the basement of an auction house about 30 years ago. I knew immediately where it came from: St. Pauls near Eppan (South Tyrol), from the Kronshof estate. I bought it right away and then offered it to the parish priest of St. Pauls.
Thirty-two fruit growers from South Tyrol traveled to see it. I welcomed them to my apartment for a traditional Bavarian white sausage lunch. They were quite disappointed that they couldn't initially raise the money. Thankfully, an art historian was also present. It came from the city museum in Bolzano, which then bought it and where the altar is exhibited today.
A lovely story. His eyes sparkle!
Yes! Art keeps you young. (Georg Urban smiles)
I could tell you thousands of stories like this. I'm always delighted that every purchase and sale brings such a fascinating story and great joy: for me and the customer. Because I'm allowed into every home where I've bought something and where I've sold something. I've saved numerous works of art from decay, which can now be admired again in churches and museums.
What connects you with your customers?
For my customers, I'm not just a dealer; over the years, many friendships have developed because we share a very important commonality: a passion for collecting and a love of art.
Which of the sculptures on display here is currently closest to your heart?
Saint Donatus is a wonderful sculpture. It's a 2.30-meter-tall Baroque sculpture, carved entirely from wood and painted. Such sculptures stood as so-called "shrine guardians" on the sides of high altars during the Baroque period.
(As Georg Urban speaks, his eyes light up, and we witness an almost youthful passion.)
The artist, Witwer, was a student of the great Egidius Braun in Prague and later worked in Vienna, eventually becoming a master himself. Many shrine guardians of this size, found in churches and museums, originated from his hand. In the catalog "Baroque in the Upper Bavarian Region," Professor Koeberl introduced the artist Witwer and illustrated other large sculptures.
Saint Donatus is a weather saint who catches lightning and appears as a knight with a sword, clad in silver armor.
Our Donatus wears a white and blue sash around his waist and a white and blue plume on his head. The latter suggests that he is from Bavaria, hence the state colors. Numerous churches and monasteries in Bavaria were dissolved, plundered, or destroyed during the Napoleonic era, making it difficult to attribute this figure to a specific church or altar.
During the secularization, church inventories, including paintings, sculptures, and other works of art, were destroyed. Some pieces were hidden by private individuals or clergy and thus saved.
In a museum, such an extraordinary work of woodcarving would surely attract special attention.
Yes, that would be important to me; such rare sculptures should be made accessible to the public.
Mr. Urban, thank you very much for the interview!
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| Business card: Georg Urban, 2014, photo: Helga Waess (Pressefotoarchiv) |
