Alfons
Abel

Painter, stained-glass artist, and designer of church furnishings, * January 19, 1908, Nuremberg – † June 24, 1994, Nuremberg. Married to Klothilde Haunold (* November 1, 1910 – † 1994), three daughters. Attended the Nuremberg School of Applied Arts under Georg Vogt and Rudolf Schiestl. From 1928/29, he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich under Franz Klemmer, and from 1929/34 at the Academy of Fine Arts in Berlin under Prof. Wolfsfeld. In 1934, he set up a stained-glass workshop in Sofia, Bulgaria, commissioned by the Reich Association of German Stained-Glass Artists in Leipzig. From 1935, he worked as a freelance painter and stained-glass artist in Nuremberg. From 1940 to 1946, he served in the military and was imprisoned, working at an English art school in Heliopolis, Egypt. He returned to Nuremberg in 1947. He worked extensively for ecclesiastical and public clients, primarily in Nuremberg and the Franconian region. His works can be found in town halls, schools, savings banks, banks, hospitals, mortuaries, and numerous churches and parish halls. Over the years, he created seven windows, ranging from 6 to 10 meters in height, for the Sacred Heart Church in Nuremberg-Lichtenhof. His clients also included industrial and private clients. He lived in Nuremberg for many years at Effeltricher Straße 19. He was a member of the Künstlerklause (Artists' Club), becoming an honorary member in 1981. In 1936, he became an artist member of the German Society for Christian Art, Munich. He was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1988. Works: NUREMBERG, St. Lawrence's Church: Restoration of the rose window after the war. – St. Lawrence's Church: City coat of arms window behind the altar (design). – Methodist Church, Gugelstraße: Stained glass window. Nuremberg-Fischbach, Church of the Resurrection: altar table with winged reredos in enamel technique, 1933 (together with Christof Kreuzer, blacksmith). Nuremberg-Großreuth near Schweinau, St. Thomas Church: three stained-glass windows in the choir, 1957. Bratwurst-Röslein: swear word window. His 1988 catalogue includes over 150 works. Lit.: KDM Nuremberg, 1977; Exhibit: Christa Volland, née Abel. Exhibitions: 1940/1; 1941/6; 1986/1. (quoted from the Nuremberg Artists' Lexicon, edited by Manfred H. Grieb)