Viktor Hammer (1882-1967) Kentucky, Pencil Drawing. Dated October 12, 1915. Victor Hammer's versatility as a portrait painter, sculptor, typographer, book designer, craftsman, and teacher left a lasting legacy in his adopted country of the United States. Born in Vienna on December 9, 1882, he studied at the city's fine arts academy before traveling throughout Europe for specialized training: bookbinding in Berlin, Arabic calligraphy in Constantinople, type design in Florence, and mezzotint and silver point in London. In the 1920s, he lived in Florence, where he painted portraits and, in 1929, established a private press, Stamperia del Santuccio. In 1936, he had returned to Vienna, where he served as professor at the Akademie der Bildenden Künste, but in 1939 was compelled to escape the Nazi regime. Emigrating to the United States, Hammer and his first wife Rosl Rossbach settled in Aurora, NY, where he taught at Wells College and, in 1941, established the Wells College Press. After his retirement from Wells in 1948, Hammer moved to Lexington, KY, and became artist-in-residence at Transylvania University from 1948 to 1953. Overall Size: 13 7/8 x 8 3/4 in. Sight Size: 8 3/4 x 6 3/8 in,