Opened in 1779 the Fridericianum stands before you. It is not just a building. It’s a testament to Kassel’s rich history and cultural significance. Landgrave Friedrich II commissioned this magnificent structure. He envisioned it as a place for his collection of treasures and curiosities.
Did you know the Fridericianum is one of Europe’s oldest public museums? It holds a unique place in history. The Huguenot architect Simon Louis du Ry designed it. He created what was the world’s first purpose-built public museum.
Originally the Fridericianum housed the state library of Hesse. It also held the art collections of the Hessian landgraves. The museum included a medal machinery and watch room. There was also a print room a manuscripts room and a map gallery. Scientific instruments cork models of Roman architecture and wax figures completed the collection. These figures represented historic Hessian landgraves.
The Fridericianum’s library once held 100000 volumes. It connected to the medieval Zwehrenturm tower. This tower served as an observatory. The Brothers Grimm Jacob and Wilhelm worked at the library. They added their own chapter to the Fridericianum’s story.
Interestingly Napoleon’s youngest brother Jérôme Bonaparte changed the Fridericianum’s path. When Jérôme became King of Westphalia Kassel served as the kingdom’s capital. The Fridericianum was repurposed as Germany’s first parliamentary building. This transformation was brief. After Jérôme’s expulsion the Fridericianum returned to its original purpose as a museum.
The Fridericianum faced dark days during World War II. Bombing raids in 1941 and 1943 caused heavy damage. Only the enclosing walls and the Zwehrenturm library remained. The surviving books found a new home in the Kassel University Library.
However the Fridericianum rose from the ashes. In 1955 the first documenta exhibition took place here. Arnold Bode founded documenta. It transformed the provisionally restored Fridericianum. Since then documenta has been held every five years. The Fridericianum became synonymous with this renowned art exhibition. The building was fully renovated by 1982.
Since 1988 the Fridericianum has hosted its own temporary exhibitions. Veit Loers’ exhibition Schlaf der Vernunft opened the series. It cleverly juxtaposed museum objects from the Enlightenment with contemporary art.
René Block succeeded Loers as Artistic Director in 1998. He focused on the global art world’s supposed peripheries. Rein Wolfs directed the Fridericianum from 2008 to 2011. He organized the first exhibition of Danh Vo’s We the People. The artist recast a life-size Statue of Liberty from 30 tons of copper sheets.
Susanne Pfeffer has been the director of the Fridericianum since June 2013. She presented the exhibition trilogy Speculations on Anonymous Materials nature after nature and Inhuman. In 2015 she organized a retrospective of the Belgian artist Marcel Broodthaers. It featured works from all of the artist’s creative periods.
The Fridericianum stands as a symbol of resilience innovation and artistic expression. Its walls have witnessed history’s ebb and flow. From housing royal treasures to showcasing contemporary art it remains a vital cultural landmark. Its story is a testament to Kassel’s enduring spirit. The Fridericianum is more than just a museum. It’s a living breathing testament to art history and the power of cultural rebirth.