Joseph Urban

Joseph Urban (May 26, 1872 – July 10, 1933) was an Austrian-American architect, illustrator, and scenic designer. Born in Vienna, Urban studied architecture at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna under Karl von Hasenauer. He gained recognition for his innovative use of color, pointillist technique, and decorative use of line. At 19, he received his first architectural commission to design the new wing of the Abdin Palace in Cairo. Urban's work spanned the globe, from Esterhazy Castle in Hungary to the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York. In addition to architecture, he collaborated with his brother-in-law Heinrich Lefler on notable children's book illustrations. Urban immigrated to the United States in 1911 and became the art director of the Boston Opera Company.