 Anton Faistauer (1887-1930), a farmer's son, was originally destined for the priesthood. In 1906 he entered the class of professor Christian Greener at the Academy of Fine Arts, were he made Sceile's aquaintance. Three years later he and Schiele left the Academy together: as young artists they found the teaching at the old-fashion Academy stifling. They stayed there jusy long enough to acquire the one-year volunteer exemption which allowed them to srve two years in the army instead of the usual three. Faistauer joined Sciele in founding Neukunstgruppe (New Art Group) whose first exhibition was held at the Pisko gallery at 14 Lothringer Strasse in 1909. According to Arthur Roessler, Faistauer was "the moving force of the group and a clever impresario." Aftet Klimt's death in February 1918, Schiele felt himself called upon to take on the leadership of the younger generation. This led to minor conflicts between Faistauer and him (for example over the fourty-ninth Seccession exhibition where Schiele enjoyed a considerable success). On February 3, 1918, a few days before Klimt's death, Faistauer wrote to Schielle in a huff: "I think it is essential that you let me know your program and how you intend to implement it whaen you take over - which is not what we asked you to do. I certainly don't want
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 to be considered as an also-ran..." (N., no. 1373). [In 1917 Schiele and several of his friends had founded a new artist union, the Sonderbund, which did not last long; hence, probably, Faistauer's reference to "we"] Three years later he and Schiele left the Academy together: as young artists they found the teaching at the old-fashion Academy stifling. They stayed there jusy long enough to acquire the one-year volunteer exemption which allowed them to srve two years in the army instead of the usual three. Faistauer joined Sciele in founding Neukunstgruppe (New Art Group) whose first exhibition was held at the Pisko gallery at 14 Lothringer Strasse in 1909. According to Arthur Roessler, Faistauer was "the moving force of the group and a clever impresario." Aftet Klimt's death in February 1918, Schiele felt himself called upon to take on the leadership of the younger generation. This led to minor conflicts between Faistauer and him (for example over the fourty-ninth Seccession exhibition where Schiele enjoyed a considerable success). I certainly don't want to be considered as an also-ran..." (N., no. 1373). [In 1917 Schiele and several of his friends had founded a new artist union, the Sonderbund, which did not last long; hence, probably, Faistauer's reference to "we"] Three years later he and Schiele left the
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