About the museum association’s collections

The Historical Collection of the museum association is largely due to the contribution in 1844 by the mayor and chronicler of Bruneck, Johann Nepomuk Tinkhauser. It includes important local religious works, especially from the late Gothic period (eg, the so-called Sonnenburger altar, works by Michael Pacher, Friedrich Pacher, Simon and Veit von Taisten and Master of Uttenheim) and the Baroque perioed (eg works by Paul Troger and Carl Henrici), and several portraits, landscapes and genre pictures from the 17th-19th century. Important to also mention are artworks such as a small Prehistoric bronze figure, a cup made of Murano glass, some woodcuts by Albrecht Dürer and the centerpiece of the book collection, the so-called "Sonnenburger Calendarium", a medical-astrological compilation from the years 1439 to 1746.

The bust of an angel on a keystone by Michael Pacher, originally from the church of Issing/ Issengo, has become a symbol of the museum. This is one of the earliest works of the painter, and was donated in 2004 to the museum association.

When the association was founded again in 1990, the collecting activity was resumed and focused mainly on the art in Tyrol from the 19th to 21st century and on a large variety of graphic works by local and international artists. Furthermore, the association has a bookplate collection (12,000 pieces) and the photographic collections of Ernst Mariner, the Kofler dynasty and others that offer an interesting cross section of 20th century photographic history.

From the 19th century original works like idyllic landscapes by the brothers Ignaz and Gottfried Seelos or a hallway view of Josef Moroder-Lusenberg from Gröden. The works from the first half of the 20th century range from the expressionism of Emil Nolde and Werner Berg to Cubo-Futurist Fortunato Depero and the new objectivity of Alexander Kanoldt. Artists such as the Stolz brothers, Alexander Koester, Carl Moser, Leo Putz, Hans Weber-Tyrol and Eduard Thöny provide a bridge to the regional environment with their works.

The post-1945 period includes works like the experimental color compositions and batik collage of Mili Schmalzl from Gröden, the fresh fashion drawings and portraits of Gina Thusek and façade designs and woodcuts of the 2011 deceased artist Heiner Gschwendt Klausner. Also interesting are the prints, ink drawings and etchings by Paul Flora and works on paper by Markus Vallazza, which are among the most famous South Tyrolean graphics.

Particularly noteworthy are the works of this second generation of artists who sought to break out during the difficult period of the post-war years from the cultural constraints of the traditional conservative-art climate of South Tyrol. Led by Hans Ebensperger and Karl Plattner, along with Peter Fellin, the movement brought a vision to the land with contemporary, artistic ideas and opened it to the European avant-garde.

In addition there are also works from nationally and internationally acclaimed artists from the German and Italian art world, which represent an ideal complement to the regional artistic expression. This includes well-known artists of the various non-representational trends as the versatile Bauhaus student Hans Joachim Breustedt, the energetic North German Siegward Sprotte and two Austrians, Karl Reiner Mostböck and Schiestl.

The contemporary Pustertal art scene is represented by artists such as Julia Bornefeld, Elfriede Gangl, Wilma Kammerer, Franz Kehrer, Annemarie Laner, Albert Mellauner, Linda Wolfsgruber and Armin Zingerle.

Translation by Barbara Taferner