When does the exhibition take place?

The exhibition is scheduled for 16.09.2026. It starts at 10:00 AM and ends at 5:00 PM according to the event entry.

Where can the exhibition be seen?

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

How much is the admission?

The event entry states €11 for adults and €8 reduced, children and teenagers up to 18 years are free.

Are there any accessibility notes?

The castle is only accessible via steps and does not have an elevator, according to visitor information. However, there are additional notes in the museum for guests with mobility restrictions.

What themes are addressed in the exhibition?

The focus is on works by Hugo Paul Harrer, his Italian motifs, drawings, the portrait of Franziska, and a restored Vesuvius from the collection.

Can I check the opening times before visiting?

Yes, the opening times are published on the website of the Foundation Prince Pückler Museum Park and Castle Branitz.

Italian Painting in Branitz: Rediscovering Hugo Paul Harrer

Name: Special Exhibition: Between Capri and Rome. Hugo Paul Harrer
Start: 2026-08-16T12:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-08-16T19:00:00+02:00
Location: Fürst Pückler Museum Park & Schloss Branitz

Between Capri and Rome: Rediscovering Hugo Paul Harrer in Branitz

The special exhibition at the Prince Pückler Museum Park & Castle Branitz opens a view to an almost forgotten painter of the 19th century and to an Italian visual world full of light, architecture, and travel experience. The focus is on works by Hugo Paul Harrer, who condensed Italy, Rome, and the coastal landscapes of the Amalfi Coast into impressive pictorial motifs as a landscape and architecture painter of the Düsseldorf School.

An Art Experience Between Romance and the Italian South

Harrer worked with studies, sketches, and oil paintings, in which street scenes, ruins, and coastal views become atmospherically dense compositions. The exhibition brings these motifs to life in a museum context and combines art historical classification with the special exhibition atmosphere of a castle, which is itself shaped by history and collection culture.

Franziska Wickerath and the Cottbus Collection

Especially exciting is the biographical connection: Franziska Wickerath, who married Harrer in 1868, lived in Cottbus after his early death and bequeathed many of his works. The cabinet exhibition presents the collection comprehensively for the first time, including numerous drawings, the portrait of Franziska, and a freshly restored Vesuvius. It thus reveals how closely biography, memory, and museum work are intertwined.

Branitz as a Place of Art and Culture

The Prince Pückler Museum Park & Castle Branitz itself represents a significant collection culture. In the restored rooms of the castle and in the visitor center, landscape art, art collection, and museum communication meet. Visitors to the exhibition experience not only painting, but also the context of a house that counts among the important cultural addresses in Cottbus.

Who Should Visit

The special exhibition is aimed at art enthusiasts, cultural travelers, and all who appreciate Italian motifs, 19th-century painting, and museum discoveries. It combines art historical depth with illustrative communication and makes visible why Hugo Paul Harrer deserves a fixed place in the collection history of Cottbus.

Conclusion: This exhibition promises a well-founded, sensual, and surprising encounter with Hugo Paul Harrer and his longing for Italy. Those who appreciate painting, collection history, and castle atmosphere should definitely experience Branitz live.