Family Life at the Jarays

FAMILY LIFE AT THE JARAYS

Sigmund by all accounts and photographs enjoyed his family. He and Mathilde encouraged their children in art, music, theatre, and insisted on their education. As Sigmund's business flourished, so did his family. The Jarays were fashionable. There were parties and family gatherings in which Sigmund and his brother Sándor and their families would socialize with artists, musicians, actors, dignitaries and educators, including Sigmund Freud and even the Imperial Family. In the evenings, the Jarays would walk the central square, as Viennese families do today, enjoying coffee and creams at the "Sacher Hotel" and other cafe's which still exist to this day.

Sandor (the sculptor) and Sigmund Freud

Sigmund and Sándor's brother Adolf,

born in 1846, joined them in Vienna in 1877 and married Therese Schönberg. Their 5 children, Karl, Felix, Paul, Juliette and Rudolf, were all born in Vienna. Adolf started as a gilder, coal merchant and trade representative. In 1881 he set up a factory for the production of leaven. In 1897 he also set up a factory for machine-boxes and in 1901 his business included a wine-trade. Beside this he was very popular with a fine singing voice. Though a Jew, he was an invited soloist at St. Stephan's cathedral in the square.

Adolf Jaray

The Jaray family

grew in numbers, until Jaray cousins were prominent everywhere. They were popular with artists, musicians and actors. As Sigmund and his brothers prospered, opportunities opened for their children. Jaray offspring excelled at art, music, architecture, design, and sculpture. Music was important in their homes and each child was schooled on a stringed instrument.

They had bright, inquisitive and inventive minds, so Sigmund and his brothers paid for the best schools, often sending their children to study in London or Paris. As youths, they were allowed to work in their father's or uncle's design shops or factories, and to mingle with the skilled tradesmen. They were always encouraged to practice whatever skills or abilities they had. Young Sandor loved acting and sculpting, while his brother Alfred, fascinated with electricity, became an electrical engineer and inventor. Although they were encouraged to pursue their dreams, Sigmund had a not so secret desire that all his children eventually be in the family business. As a result, art, design and architecture were heavily sprinkled among other chosen studies.

Karl Jaray (1873 Vienna - 1920 Vienna)

When young Sandor,

a talented artist, appeared too much involved with his acting, Sigmund found ways to bring him back to his art and sculpture, believing these skills to be more valuable in the family firm.

Sandor's studio

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