Lesser Ury (1861-1931) German, Pastel on PaperWinter urban scene, mixed media pastel & graphite on paper, signed lower right: Lesser Ury is one of the leading modern artists in early 20th century Germany. His life and work is particularly associated with the city of Berlin.Born into a Jewish family of humble origin, Ury was able to attend the art academy in Dusseldorf, and continued his art training in Paris, Brussels, Stuttgart, and Munich before returning to Berlin in 1887. With the support of fellow Berlin artists Adoph von Menzel and Max Liebermann, Ury began to exhibit his work in 1889. Lesser Ury was one of the first artists in Germany to depict modern city life. Though he strove toward realism, Ury enjoyed punctuating his workwith bright dashes of color. Pastels were a favored medium because they allowed for careful control of light and color. Though nearly penniless when he died, Ury was buried in the honorary section of the Jewishcemetery at Weissensee in Berlin. Much of Ury’s art was destroyed subsequently during the Third Reich, and his legacy was almost forgotten for many decades. Now Lesser Ury’s work can be found in prominent international museums and auction