Philipp
Kittler

Sculptor, representative of a realism that developed between Jugendstil and Art Déco.

His oeuvre mainly comprises free-standing bronze figures in the public space.

Son of Emanuel, stove manufacturer. ∞ Elise Morill (born 15.2.1932). Apprenticeship as a stove fitter with his father. 1877-80 Attends Nuremberg School of Arts and Crafts. 1880/81 works in a stove factory and art workshop in Hamburg, 1881-87 in his father's stove factory in Schwabach. 1887-89 attends the Nuremberg School of Arts and Crafts again. 1889 founded and became a partner of the stove factory Kittler & Co. in Nuremberg, on 29.9.1891 he registered a studio for arts and crafts in Nuremberg-Neugroßreuth, which he ran for about two years. 1893-95 he studied at the AdBK Munich under Wilhelm von Rümann. Since 1895 freelance sculptor in Nuremberg, 1895 extensive commissions for the II. State Exhibition. Since 1898 teacher for elementary modelling at the Nuremberg school of arts and crafts, 1918 appointed royal professor. 1906 commissions for the III. State Exhibition. In the first three decades of the 20th century he made his mark with numerous large sculptural works in different styles. Besides many handicraft works he also created grave monuments. 1925-26 he worked as a freelancer for the Rosenthal company in Selb. He was honoured with many awards and prizes. Study trips to Paris and Italy. 1903 he lived in Tafelhofstraße 12, 1907 Bucher Straße 23/I, 1910/12 Meuschelstraße 16, 1916/30 Bucher Straße 21/II, later Schweppermannstraße 36. Honorary member of the artists' association, member of the Nuremberg Art Society and in the Association of Nuremberg Artists and Craftsmen, member of the P.Bl.O. Buried in grave no. A 6/7 at the Johannisfriedhof. Philipp-Kittler-Straße in Nuremberg was named after him.

Works:

NÜRNBERG, Weintraubengasse, portal Social Court: figures "Truth and Law", 1901. -, Königstraße 33, facade: bronze figures "Noris" and "Fortuna", 1903 (design). -Opera House: facade decoration, 1903-05 (mosaic painting by Hermann Schwabe). -, Rosenau, park: minstrel fountain, bronze/granite, 1905. -, Bielefelder Strasse 45, institution for the blind: two statues "Music" and "Dance", shell limestone, 1905 (formerly at the industrial and cultural association at Frauentorgraben). -Schmausenbuck, entrance to the zoo: two groups of lions, bronze, 1912 (cast by Ernst Lenz). -Schnieglinger Straße 155, Israelitischer Friedhof: Ornamental fountain, shell limestone, 1913. Formerly Schmausenbuck, today Sandreuthstraße 21, EWAG grounds: Pomona fountain, 1914. -Fürther Strasse 110, exterior facade of the Palace of Justice: statue of Hugo Donellus (fourth from west to east), ca. 1915. West Cemetery: war memorial "Grieving Noris", bronze, 1923-27. Palmplatz: symbolic fountain, 1928 (design: German Bestelmeyer). -, Allersberger Straße, Gustav-Adolf-Kirche: relief "Die Kundschafter", shell limestone, 1930. -, Gudrunstraße 31, parish Gustav-Adolf-Kirche: relief "Der gute Hirte", shell limestone, 1930. -, Cramer-Klett-Park, pavilion crowning: "Fortuna", bronze, gilded, around 1935. -, Johannisfriedhof: epitaphs on the graves No. I 62/63, V./624/25.

BAUPLASTIKEN also in BAMBERG, Archbishop's Seminaries, Heinrichsdamm 32; WV s. U. Distler: The sculptor Philipp Kittler (1861-1944), Schwabach 1994. BERLIN and MUNICH: Many commemorative medals. For a list of his Nuremberg medals, see Erlanger/Fischer, 2000.

MuS: NÜRNBERG, MStN: 13 sculptures. -GNM.

Lit: Thieme-Becker; Künstlerhaus, 1910; Rösermüller, 1928; Dressler, 1930; AdBK, 1933; Mende, Rathaus 1979; Mende Dürer medals 1983; Pese, 1983; Masa, Freiplastiken, pp. 11, 118, 195, 271, 357, 390, 396, 405, 435, 445, 447; Braun/Carbon, Brunnen 2003, pp. 114, 140, 212; Heidemann, 1998; Stadtlexikon 2000. exhibits: 1882/1; 1891/1; 1896/1; 1902/1; 1903/1; 1904/1; 1907/1; 1910/1; 1912/2; 1916/1; 1917/2; 1918/3; 1919/2; 1920/1; 1924/2; 1928/1; 1929/4; 1930/3; 1931/2; 1933/3; 1934/3; 1936/1; 1940/1; 1940/2; 1942/1; 1961/23; 1963/7; 1971/8 no. 160.

quoted from the Nuremberg Künstlerlexikon, edited by Manfred H. Grieb