When does the special exhibition take place?

The exhibition starts on 01.08.2026 at 10:00 AM and continues in Branitz Castle.

Where can the exhibition be seen?

At the Prince Pückler Museum Park & Castle Branitz in Cottbus, Robinienweg 5, 03042 Cottbus.

How much is the entrance fee?

The entrance fee is 11 euros for adults, reduced price 8 euros. Children and youths up to 18 years have free admission.

Is the exhibition accessible?

The house provides information on accessibility. For special needs, it is advisable to make a brief inquiry at the museum before visiting.

Are there special works to see?

Yes, many drawings, the portrait of Franziska, and a freshly restored Vesuvius from the Carl-Blechen-Collection will be shown.

How long can one visit the exhibition?

The special exhibition is scheduled to be on display from 31.07.2026 to 01.11.2026.

Italian Art at Branitz Castle: Rediscovering Hugo Paul Harrer

Name: Special Exhibition: Between Capri and Rome. Hugo Paul Harrer
Start: 2026-08-01T12:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-08-01T19:00:00+02:00
Location: Fürst Pückler Museum Park & Schloss Branitz

Italian Light Worlds at Branitz Castle

The special exhibition Between Capri and Rome. Hugo Paul Harrer opens a precise window on an artist's biography between Rome, the Amalfi Coast, and Cottbus in Branitz. It showcases the work group of landscape and architectural painter Hugo Paul Harrer, whose Italian studies, drawings, and paintings today form a significant part of the Carl Blechen Collection of the city of Cottbus. The presentation for the first time comprehensively illuminates this collection and connects art history with local collection history.

A Painter Between the Düsseldorf School and Italian Longings

Hugo Paul Harrer belonged to the Düsseldorf School and preferred to work at the intersection of landscape, architecture, and genre painting. After years of training in Munich and Düsseldorf, he moved to Rome, where he conducted nature studies and developed motifs from street scenes, ruins, and coastal landscapes. The exhibition allows this body of work to emerge in a concentrated cabinet situation and shows how observation, light, and line create a poetic visual language.

Franziska Wickerath as the Quiet Protagonist of the Collection

Franziska Wickerath, who married Harrer in 1868, plays a special role. After his early death, she preserved and presented his works before coming to Cottbus, where she lived with her second husband, Paul Werner. The exhibition vividly illustrates this connection of life path, memory, and collection history. This cultural-historical allure lies precisely in that: it shows not only works but also how art continues to live in families, cities, and institutions.

Italy in Images: Drawings, Portraits, and Restored Motifs

Particularly impressive are the many drawings, the portrait of Franziska, and the restored Vesuvius, which together bring back to life the Italy of the Harrers. This examination of the works unfolds a dense exhibition atmosphere: bright contours, atmospheric distance, architectural precision, and the sensual presence of southern landscapes. Those interested in 19th-century art will experience a finely curated connection of aesthetic experience and art historical classification here.

Branitz as a Suitable Place for This Exhibition

The Prince Pückler Museum Park & Castle Branitz provides the ideal setting for this. The castle houses the historical collection and is closely connected to the art and garden culture of the 19th century. The Branitz Park, designed by Hermann von Pückler-Muskau beginning in 1846 as his own masterpiece, is one of the most significant landscape parks in Germany. An art experience unfolds between park architecture, castle rooms, and the collection that convincingly combines art, nature, and history.

Conclusion

This special exhibition promises a rare encounter with a rediscoverable painter and a collection that makes personal memory public culture. Those who appreciate Italian landscapes, 19th-century drawings, and art historical discoveries should definitely visit Branitz live.