Thomas Leitner

Thomas Leitner, born on March 7, 1876 in Altmünster and died on July 29, 1948 in Vienna, was a renowned Austrian painter whose artistic work played a significant role in the art world.

Leitner began his artistic career in 1893 at the Vienna Academy, where he studied under the tutelage of the renowned painter Franz Rumpler. His exceptional talent and commitment were recognized when he was awarded the Rome Prize, which gave him the opportunity to undertake study trips to Italy and Dalmatia in 1905 and 1906. These trips were of great importance for his artistic development and inspired many of his works.
In 1908, Thomas Leitner became a member of the Vienna Künstlerhaus, a renowned art association, where he regularly exhibited his artworks and made a name for himself in the art scene. During the First World War, Leitner made an important contribution as a war painter. In 1916 he worked in the Ortler region, followed by assignments in eastern Galicia in 1917 and in Capodistria and the surrounding area in 1918.

In 1924, he organized a remarkable collective exhibition at the renowned Holbein Gallery in Vienna, which impressively underlined his talent and artistic development. From around 1911, Thomas Leitner chose Waidhofen an der Thaya as his adopted home, where he received honorary citizenship in January 1943, a recognition of his merits and his artistic work.

His outstanding paintings “Donaulandschaft in der Wachau” and “Bergfrieden” were acquired by Emperor Franz Josef, and Emperor Karl also appreciated a work by Leitner. Today, Thomas Leitner’s works can be found in prestigious collections, including the Belvedere in Vienna and the Lower Austrian State Museum in St. Pölten. His artistic legacy thus lives on in important art collections and contributes to Austria’s cultural diversity and heritage.