Brice Marden, Untitled Workbook, 1982/83

Press Information

ART | WORKS ON PAPER | ARCHITECTURE | DESIGN

Exhibition

Künstler zeichnen – Sammler stiften.

250 Years of the Staatliche Graphische Sammlung München

Press preview: 09.04.08, 11.00

Exhibition opening: 09.04.08, 18.30

Duration of exhibition: 10.04.-29.06.08

In what is undoubtedly the most comprehensive exhibition in its history, the Staatliche Graphische Sammlung München is celebrating its two hundredth and fiftieth anniversary. In doing so, it is providing unique and focused insights into its rich collection of high quality works:

The magnificent medieval miniatures and master drawings of the Renaissance and Baroque form a part at this show as do, too, the outstanding woodcuts, copperplate engravings and etchings from Germany and Italy, the Netherlands, France and England. Together with the multi-faceted works on paper of the 19th century and the high-quality collections of works of the 20th century and contemporary art, Munich’s Graphische Sammlung is presenting the most exquisite and finest works of the collection.

At the same time, the exhibition of the Staatliche Graphische Sammlung at the Pinakothek der Moderne provides visitors with an opportunity to acquaint themselves with its origins and development over the past 250 years in a unique way.

At the beginning of this »collection portrait« are works from the former collection of the humanist Hartmann Schedel. The most important testimony to his universal interest is the »world chronicle« named after him, without which the new medium of graphic art would have been inconceivable. Schedel’s unique and rare pieces in this field provide the link to the core of the collection, the fine collection of drawings owned by Elector Carl Theodor.

Extensive collections of architectural drawings by the famous scenography dynasty of Galli Bibiena formed the basis for one of the world’s most significant collections of works on paper in the 18th century. The appointment of the court painter Lambert Krahe to the post of conservator at the Graphische Sammlung in 1758 is considered to be the »founding act« of this collection. However, it did not take place in Munich but at the Palace of Mannheim.

Precious works on paper by Dürer and Holbein, Rembrandt and Rubens, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael and Titian from the former Elector’s collection create an exciting contrast to the exquisite collection of contemporary drawings and works on paper that the current Duke Franz of Bavaria has established over the past decades.

As a patron of contemporary art with works by Hans Hartung, Wols and Joan Miró, Blinky Palermo and Jörg Immendorf, Georg Baselitz and Gerhard Richter, Duke Franz follows in the longstanding tradition of patronage pursued by the Bavarian kings Ludwig I. and Ludwig II., to whom the Staatliche Graphische Sammlung is equally indebted for the outstanding works of contemporary art they collected in their days.

There have been many other patrons in the course of the history of the Staatliche Graphische Sammlung München – among them the business man Hugo Reisinger, who made the acquisition of the unique Marées collection possible. Other names include the entrepreneur Max Kade and his exquisite collection of prints, the artists Sofie and Emanuel Fohn and Theodor and Woty Werner; likewise the business couple Martha and Markus Kruss and also the lawyer Bernd Mittelsten Scheid.

All these donations and impressive works have now been brought together to create a truly lively collection.

For this we are greatly indebted to the State of Bavaria and in particular to our circle of patrons: Vereinigung der Freunde der Staatlichen Graphischen Sammlung München e. V. and PIN. Freunde der Pinakothek der Moderne, whose generous funding enables us to continue securing new acquisitions.

The fruits of this multifaceted commitment to art can be viewed at the Pinakothek der Moderne to an extent never before realised. The show aims to pay tribute to the many patrons of this museum, from the art-loving state ruler, the committed associations and institutions through to present day patrons. At the same time, this jubilee exhibition wishes to promote future commitment to the art of works on paper.

Curator: Michael Semff