Consider this floor plate beneath our feet a portal to the past. It commemorates Justus Bier, a distinguished art historian born right here in Nuremberg. His life was one of remarkable achievement and resilience. This Justus Bier Floor plate marks not just a birthplace, but the origin of a journey that spanned continents and transformed the world of art history.
Justus Bier was born on May 31, 1899. He hailed from a well-to-do Jewish family. His father, Jacob Bier, owned a shoe factory. Jacob was also a board member of the Germanisches Nationalmuseum in Nuremberg. Young Justus attended the Humanistisches Gymnasium here in Nuremberg.
Justus Bier’s academic pursuits led him to several universities. He studied art history, classical archaeology, and medieval history. Munich, Erlangen, Jena, Bonn, and Zurich all shaped his understanding. Key mentors like Paul Clemen and Heinrich Wölfflin guided his path. Wölfflin supervised Justus Bier’s doctoral work.
His dissertation focused on the early works of Tilman Riemenschneider. Riemenschneider was a renowned sculptor. Justus Bier’s deep dive into Riemenschneider’s art established him as a leading expert.
From 1930 to 1936, Justus Bier served as curator at the Kestner-Gesellschaft in Hannover. This art society championed contemporary art. However, the rising Nazi regime forced its closure in 1936. Being Jewish, Justus Bier faced persecution. He emigrated to the United States in 1937.
Justus Bier found a new home at the University of Louisville in Kentucky. He taught art history there from 1937 to 1960. He founded the Allen R. Hite Institute. His influence extended beyond academia. Justus Bier wrote over 200 art reviews for the Courier Journal.
Later, in 1960, Justus Bier became director of the North Carolina Museum of Art. He led the museum until his retirement in 1970. Even after retirement, he remained active in his field. Justus Bier completed his comprehensive work on Tilman Riemenschneider.
Justus Bier’s contributions earned him several honors. He received the Great Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1973. The city of Würzburg awarded him its Golden City Seal in 1976. Today, the Justus Bier Prize for Curators recognizes his legacy.
Justus Bier died on January 23, 1990, in Raleigh, North Carolina. His impact on art history endures. His papers are preserved at the University of Louisville.
This Justus Bier Floor plate serves as a reminder. It honors a man whose life was dedicated to art. It also marks the starting point of an extraordinary journey. A journey from Nuremberg to international acclaim. Let us remember Justus Bier, the Nuremberg native who illuminated the world of art history.