In 1903, he moved with his wife and children to Grado, Italy, seeking a better climate and financial stability.
From 1904, the Auchentallers spent every summer in Grado, where they contributed significantly to the growth of tourism in the Adriatic seaside resort town.
He provided ornamentation for a new pensione, the "Pension Fortino," designed by the architect Julius Mayreder.
His wife, Emma, later installed a steam laundry and bought an island where fruit and vegetables were grown for the town.
Grado soon became a popular holiday destination of the Viennese bourgeoisie and for Auchentaller's circle of artist friends, including Carl Moll, Alfred Roller, Wilhelm List, Max Kurzweil, and the architect Otto Wagner.
In 1906, Auchenteller designed the advertisement poster Seebad Grado, which endures as one of his most famous art nouveau works.

Although he spent winters in Vienna, Auchentaller became increasingly isolated from the Austrian art world after leaving the Secession in 1905.
Increasingly, he began to paint moody landscapes and portraits.
His family life became strained: his daughter, Maria Josepha, committed suicide in 1914, and there were rumors that his wife was involved with another man in Grado.
In 1914, war was declared and the Auchentellers moved back to Austria.
In 1919, the Auchentallers took Italian citizenship and moved to Grado for good.
Emma died in 1945, and Auchentaller died four years later in 1949.
In 1903, he moved with his wife and children to Grado, Italy, seeking a better climate and financial stability. From 1904, the Auchentallers spent every summer in Grado, where they contributed significantly to the growth of tourism in the Adriatic seaside resort town. He provided ornamentation for a new pensione, the "Pension Fortino," designed by the architect Julius Mayreder. His wife, Emma, later installed a steam laundry and bought an island where fruit and vegetables were grown for the town. Grado soon became a popular holiday destination of the Viennese bourgeoisie and for Auchentaller's circle of artist friends, including Carl Moll, Alfred Roller, Wilhelm List, Max Kurzweil, and the architect Otto Wagner. In 1906, Auchenteller designed the advertisement poster Seebad Grado, which endures as one of his most famous art nouveau works.
Although he spent winters in Vienna, Auchentaller became increasingly isolated from the Austrian art world after leaving the Secession in 1905. Increasingly, he began to paint moody landscapes and portraits. His family life became strained: his daughter, Maria Josepha, committed suicide in 1914, and there were rumors that his wife was involved with another man in Grado. In 1914, war was declared and the Auchentellers moved back to Austria. In 1919, the Auchentallers took Italian citizenship and moved to Grado for good. Emma died in 1945, and Auchentaller died four years later in 1949.
Josef Maria Auchentaller