Victor Hugo Miesel Jr.

Victor was born in Detroit on October 12, 1928 to Victor Hugo Miesel Sr. and Anna (Porth) Miesel. He attended Marxhausen School and Eastern High School, graduating in 1946. Victor studied painting, sculpture, and arts education at Wayne State University, where he received a BA in 1950. He earned an MA in art history at the University of Michigan in 1951, and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies in 1952. Victor was drafted in 1952, during the Korean War, and married Carolyn Ann Grisdale, his high school and college sweetheart, while on leave before being sent to Germany. There he served in the U.S. Army Signal Corp Intelligence Unit until he was honorably discharged in 1954. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Army Occupation Medal.

Victor returned to Germany as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Würzburg. In 1957, he joined the faculty at the University of Michigan as an instructor in the Department of History of Art and completed his Ph.D. in 1959. He was promoted to assistant professor in 1961, associate professor in 1966, and professor in 1972. In addition, he lectured at Barnard College from 1964-1965, and at Columbia University in 1972. Victor enjoyed an international reputation in the area of German Expressionism. He authored numerous articles, book reviews, exhibition catalogues, and Voices of German Expressionism, An Anthology, first published in 1970 and revised and reprinted in 2003.

The range of Victor’s scholarly interests was wide, from his doctoral dissertation on Rubens and ancient art to a series of reviews of the latest artistic developments. The scope of his teaching ranged from European and American art of the late 18th century to the present. His courses were popular with students and included introductory offerings to highly focused seminars, with particular emphasis on the survey of 20th century art and on courses in expressionism, Picasso and cubism, and Dada and surrealism. He lectured extensively throughout the United States and Europe, including several lecture series with the Detroit Institute of Arts. He was also a host, in the early 1960’s, of The Painter’s Art, a television production with the artist, fellow Detroit native, and associate dean of the University’s School of Art, Guy Palazzola. In this collaboration, the two discussed and illustrated the major ideas, styles and movements of modern painting.

Victor also taught at and served as the director of Michigan’s study abroad program in Florence, where he earned a reputation for his academically and physically challenging tours of the city and it’s environs. Victor was a highly regarded professor who inspired and mentored many students. He was particularly fond of “Project Night” held as part of his 20th century art class and the “happenings” that frequently accompanied this. He retired from the University on May 31, 1995 and was named professor emeritus. He was also the recipient of the Wayne State University Arts Achievement Award in 1997.

Victor spent his retirement painting, gardening, traveling, reading, and debating just about any subject. A life long member of the Lutheran Church, Victor was a congregant of Zion Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor. He was also a lifetime member of the University of Michigan Alumni Association.

Victor was preceded in death by his wife, Carolyn, in 1975, and by his parents. He is survived by his and Carolyn’s three children and their spouses: Victor (Robin Amble), Catherine (Michael Moeser), and Carolyn (Kevin Calandrella), and by his six grandchildren, who affectionately refer to him as “Painting Grandpa”: Susanna, Caroline, Heidi, Kristina, Max, and Gabriella. He is also survived by his wife Vada Hays, who he married in 1993, and by his brother-in-law, Richard Grisdale (Margaret), and by numerous nieces and nephews.

Victor will be remembered for his love of traveling around Europe by train with his family in search of art, good food and wine, and the cheapest hotel nearest to the railroad station. During these trips he instilled in his children a love for adventure while impressing them with his ability to communicate in German, French, Russian and Italian. He will be missed for his war stories, German songs, anxiety about Michigan football, and lengthy Latin recitations.

A memorial in his honor will be announced at a future date. Donations in his memory can be made to: The University of Michigan, The Department of the History of Art, 110 Tappan Hall, 855 S. University Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1357; The Kelsey Museum of Archaeology, 434 S. State St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1390; or The University Musical Society, Burton Memorial Tower, 881 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1011.