Rudolf Eisenmenger

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameRudolf Hermann•Eisenmenger
Used nameRudolf•Eisenmenger
Born7 August 1902 in Simeria, Hunedoara (ROU)
Died3 November 1994 in Wien (Vienna), Wien (AUT)
NOC Austria
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 1
Bronze 0
Total 1

Biography

Rudolf Eisenmenger came from Transylvania in Romania, but moved with his parents to Vienna in 1921 and studied there at the Academy of Fine Arts. After a scholarship for Roma, he settled in Wien (Vienna) as a freelance artist. His classic and romantic painting style was also beloved by Nazi officials and he was not suppressed in those times.

In 1936 Eisenmenger won a silver medal in the art competitions of the Olympic Games for his work Läufer vor dem Ziel (Runners at the Finishing Line). It was painted in 1936 in oil on canvas. For a selling price of RM 2,200.00, the painting was purchased by the Museum of Art and Sport in Tokyo. In 1938, the painting was reproduced in color in the Olympic Review. However, it seems to have been a copy in a slightly different style compared to the picture in the art catalog.

From 1939-45 he was President of the Vienna Künstlerhaus. In this role, Eisenmenger actively espoused for Jewish artists and the salvation of their works, although himself a member of the Nazi Party. After World War II he continued to work successfully in Vienna and won, among other awards, the competition for the design of the iron curtain of the Vienna State Opera. In 1951-72 he was a professor and temporary dean of the Technical University.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1936 Summer Olympics Art Competitions AUT Rudolf Eisenmenger
Painting, Paintings, Open (Olympic) 2 Silver