Curious about ancient sculptures? You’re standing before the Gipsabguss-Sammlung der Universität Hamburg. It holds a fascinating collection of plaster casts. These casts represent antique sculptures. The Gipsabguss-Sammlung provides a unique glimpse into art history.
This collection boasts a history spanning over 150 years. It belongs to the Universität Hamburg’s Institute for Archaeology and Cultural History of the Ancient Mediterranean. Currently, the Gipsabguss-Sammlung contains about 180 plaster casts. These include sculptures, reliefs, portraits, and terracotta pieces.
The original artworks are scattered across major international museums. This makes the Gipsabguss-Sammlung a special place. You can see these works together in one location. The pieces cover a broad period. They range from Greek Archaic to Classical and Hellenistic periods. It extends into the Roman Imperial era. The collection focuses on classical and Hellenistic sculpture.
You will find famous ancient sculptures here. Examples include the “Kasseler Apollo” and the “Athena Lemnia”. The Gipsabguss-Sammlung also features Greek architectural sculptures. Roman imperial portraits are present too.
In the 19th century, museums opened to the public across Europe. Hamburg also joined this movement. Citizens and private sponsors helped establish an art collection. The first Kunsthalle opened in 1852. For about 50 years, the ground floor displayed plaster casts. These represented sculptures from antiquity, the Middle Ages, and the modern era. The aim was to illustrate art history’s development to visitors.
In the early 20th century, the Kunsthalle changed its focus. It limited its acquisitions to antique sculptures. After World War II, the casts remained in storage. They were largely inaccessible to the public. In the early 1980s, the Archaeological Institute of the Universität Hamburg acquired these historical plaster casts. Since 1992, the collection resides in a former bakery on Grindelallee. Now it is open to all who are interested.
The Gipsabguss-Sammlung offers a chance to explore ancient art. The collection allows us to study and appreciate classical sculpture. Think about the skilled artisans who created the originals. Consider the journey these images have taken through time. The Gipsabguss-Sammlung invites you to connect with the past. It showcases the enduring power of art.