Goldscheider, Ludwig, 1896-1973

Art historian, poet and translator, and co-founder, director, designer and editor of the Phaidon Press.

From the description of Ludwig Goldscheider papers, 1911-1981 (bulk 1925-1973). (Getty Research Institute). WorldCat record id: 84215135

Biographical/Historical Note

Ludwig Goldscheider (1896-1973) was a notable historian of art, a poet and translator, and one of the most influential art book publishers of the twentieth century. He co-founded the Phaidon Verlag publishing house with his father-in-law, Bela Horowitz, in Vienna in 1923. He wrote or otherwise oversaw production of a number of important art books for Phaidon beginning in the 1930's. These were distinguished by an abundance of high-quality illustrations, many of which were chosen by Goldscheider, as well as the use of large formats. The visual impact and richness of these large-sized editions did much to determine the development and general style of the modern form of the popular art book.

Goldscheider moved to London in 1938, remaining closely associated there with the Phaidon Press, Ltd. as editor, designer, and author, and assumed general management of the company after Horowitz's death in 1955. His monographic and other art historical studies for Phaidon were mostly on Italian Renaissance artists (notably Michelangelo and Leonardo) but topics ranged from ancient (Roman Portraiture) to modern subjects (Oskar Kokoschka), since one of his aims as an art historian was to demonstrate a continuity between Modernism and the art of past epochs. His broad art historical knowledge gained him wide recognition as a connoisseur and advisor, which many European and American scholars, collectors, dealers, and museum specialists readily acknowledge in their letters to him.

He died in London in 1973, only a few months after attending the opening of Phaidon's Golden Jubilee celebrations in honor of the firm's fiftieth anniversary. The Phaidon Press continues to publish.

From the guide to the Ludwig Goldscheider papers, 1911-1981, (Getty Research Institute)