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The artist painter Rudolf Stolz

Rudolf Stolz (Bolzano 1874 – Sesto 1960) was one of the three painter brothers Stolz and is considered the most important Tyrolian fresco painter of the early twentieth century.

Like his brothers Albert (Bolzano 1875 – 1947) and Ignaz (Bolzano 1868 – 1953), he was introduced to painting in the workshop of his father, the decorative painter and artist Ignaz Stolz the elder (Termeno 1840 – Bolzano 1907). After his father’s death he took over the workshop but he maintained the deep desire to become an artist.

The three painter brothers (from left to right): Rudolf, Albert and Ignaz Stolz. Foto: © Museum Rudolf Stolz, Sesto.

World War l caused a dramatic break in his and his brothers artistic endeavors. Albert and Rudolf worked as war painters on the southern front depicting the realities of war. In the years that followed, the twenties, the artist Albin Egger-Lienz exerted a significant influence on their art. At this time, the brothers were repeatedly commissioned to paint frescos.

In 1924, Rudolf created the Dance of Death at the cemetery of Sesto depicting 16 rhythmically lined up figures. Death is depicted as “dancing coquettishly with amicable and appeasing features”. Promoted by the architects Marius Amonn and Clemens Holzmeister, numerous commissions for frescos followed, among them at the Gasthof Stiegl, house Amonn in Bolzano, hotel Drei Zinnen in Sesto, the Gasthof Weißes Kreuz in Innsbruck and the concourse at the train station of Innsbruck.

Rudolf Stolz, "Dance of Death", 1924, cemetery of Sesto. Foto: © Wisthaler Photography, San Candido.

Rudolf Stolz, self portrait. Foto: © Museum Rudolf Stolz, Sesto.

Rudolf Stolz. Foto: © Museum Rudolf Stolz, Sesto.

Rudolf Stolz, self portrait, 1944. Foto: © Museum Rudolf Stolz, Sesto.

In 1943 Rudolf Stolz and his family fled the chaos of war and found refuge in Sesto where, with the support of friends and benefactors, he led a secluded life until his death in 1960.

Aside from his fresco work Rudolf Stolz created an extensive oeuvre of watercolors and drawings. The themes range from religious motifs to domestic scenes, landscapes around Bolzano as well as picturesque mountains in Sesto. While he originally preferred themes of local folklore and was heavily influenced by the work of Albin Egger-Lienz, with time, his works became much more refined and poetic.

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The artist painter Rudolf Stolz

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