The Epstein family

Textiles producers and bankers

At the beginning of the 19th century Leopold Epstein opens a textiles factory near Prague which becomes the second largest in Bohemia. The family acquires wealth and social standing as a result.

Soon they move to Vienna, where Leopold enters the world of finance. Gustav, their son, is also born here, and takes over the family’s commercial enterprises in the mid-19th century, turning the bank into one of the most important in the Austro-Hungarian monarchy.

Gustav Epstein earns so much money from banking that he is not only able to afford the most expensive plot on the emerging RIngstraße for the construction of Palais Epstein – which takes place between 1868 and 1871 - but also one of Ringstraße’s most famous architects to realise the project, Theophil Hansen, who is responsible for the Austrian Parliament Building.

And Hansen goes to town. The bel étage, the floor on which the Epstein family live, is exquisitely designed. The reliefs on the door borders are recreations of those at the Venetian church Santa Maria dei Miracoli, the detailed panelled ceilings are modelled on Rome’s San Paolo Fuori le Mura. The famed artist Christian Griepenkerl creates magnificent paintings. In addition the building has a lift from cellar to attic as well as Roman-style central heating. A ramp leads from the inner courtyard, shown in the above image, to the cellar where there are stables for 15 horses.

But Gustav Epstein cannot enjoy his new domicile for long; he loses his entire fortune in the market crash of 1873 and has to sell the palais. He dies in poverty shortly afterwards.

His widow Emilie Epstein moves to Budapest with their two daughters. Here the descendants of the Epstein family can still be found today.