Highlighting a very special exhibition in Würzburg on 19th century landscape painting, the focus of this catalogue is on artists who had a direct connection to the city. For example, one of the most celebrated German landscape painters of this period was Fritz Bamberger (1814–1873), who was born in Würzburg. He achieved great success primarily with his paintings done in Spain, for instance through numerous purchases by the German poet, art and literary historian Adolf Friedrich Graf von Schack. Bamberger’s pupil, August Christian Geist (1835–1868), also born in Würzburg, had great talent as a painter, but his early death cheated him of a lasting reputation that is still recognized today. Ferdinand Knab (1834–1920), another son of the city, was known as the court painter of the Märchenkönig (fairytale king) Ludwig II of Bavaria, and he substantially contributed to the interior décor of both Linderhof Palace and the Munich Residenz.
The majority of the works presented originate from the collection of the Museum im Kulturspeicher in Würzburg and will be enhanced through loans – for instance with works by Carl Rottmann and Johann Wilhelm Schirmer. Watercolors, drawings and prints will also be shown, in addition to large-scale oil paintings. Many of the works are being published in this context for the first time.