Hardtmuth, Joseph#
b. Asparn an der Zaya (Lower Austria), Feb. 13, 1758, d. Vienna, May 23, 1816, architect, inventor and factory owner. Leading architect of the Romantic era in Austria; worked as royal architect in Liechtenstein and as clerk of works; invented the earthenware and the ceramic lead, which he originally used in his crockery and pencil factory. Patron of W. A. Mozart and F. Schubert, he himself often took part in private music-making in the home that was then the custom in Vienna. In 1889 his grandson Franz v. H. (1832-1896) developed the "Koh-i-noor" pencil with 17 different degrees of hardness.
Works#
Vienna: city palais Liechtenstein, Herrengasse, 1789-1791 (in collaboration with J. Meissl, demolished 1913-1917). Schwarzer Turm near Moedling, 1810. Eisgrub (Lednice, Czech Republic): Tuerkischer Turm 1797-1804; Hansenburg, 1807-1810. Feldsberg (Valtice, Czech Republic): Reistenkolonnade, 1810-1812. Lundenburg (Břeclav, Czech Republic): Jagdschloss Pohanska, 1810-1812.Literature#
G. Wilhelm, J. H. (1758-1816), 1990.