Do you see that grand baroque building before us? That is the Angermuseum Erfurt, a treasure trove of art and history. The Angermuseum Erfurt stands proudly beside the Anger, not far from Erfurt’s train station and town hall.
Once upon a time, this magnificent structure served a very different purpose. Back in 1705, it was built as the Electoral-Mainzian Pack and Weighing House. Imagine merchants bustling about, weighing their goods to pay city customs.
In 1886, the building transformed into Erfurt’s municipal museum. Over time, it evolved into the multi-faceted art museum we see today. The Angermuseum Erfurt is one of central Germany’s most beautiful secular buildings from the baroque period. The architect Johann Maximilian von Welsch designed it. Construction took place from 1706 to 1711. Look up and you will see St. Martin, the city’s patron saint, watching over us from the gable triangle.
Inside the Angermuseum Erfurt, a world of art awaits. The medieval collection showcases Erfurt and Thuringian art from the Middle Ages. You will find sculptures, paintings, and craft art. The collection includes works from the 14th century, a golden age for Erfurt art. Four altarpieces from St. Augustine’s Monastery are highlights. Sandstone sculptures from the master of the Severisarcophagus are also on display.
Paintings from the 17th century to the present day fill the picture gallery. Marvel at works by Lucas Cranach the Elder and his workshop. See his panels like “Christus als guter Hirte”, “Lasset die Kindlein zu mir kommen” and “Heilige Nacht”.
The Angermuseum Erfurt boasts a remarkable collection of graphic art. It holds over 30,000 graphics and drawings spanning five centuries.
Don’t miss the Arts and Crafts collection. Admire faience, glass, porcelain, and furniture. Contemporary jewelry also sparkles here. The glass collection holds over 800 objects, with fragments from the Barfüßerkirche dating back to 1250.
One special feature is the Heckel Room. Erich Heckel created expressionist mural paintings here in 1922-24. These murals titled “Stages of Life” are among the most important surviving examples of German Expressionism.
The Angermuseum Erfurt experienced its heyday in the 1920s. Herbert Kunze was the director then. Jewish shoe manufacturer Alfred Hess supported the museum. He helped acquire works by Lyonel Feininger, Emil Nolde and others. This made the Angermuseum Erfurt’s collection of German Expressionism famous.
The Angermuseum Erfurt faced challenges during the National Socialist era. Many modern art pieces were destroyed or removed, and some works were lost.
After five years of renovation, the Angermuseum Erfurt reopened in 2010. It showcased “Natalya Goncharova. Zwischen russischer Tradition und europäischer Moderne”.
Today, the Angermuseum Erfurt continues to thrive. The Association of the “Freunde des Angermuseums” and the “Verein für Kunst und Kunstgewerbe Erfurt” support it. The Angermuseum is not just a building. It is a living testament to Erfurt’s rich artistic and cultural heritage. Be sure to explore its many treasures and discover the stories they hold.