Name: Special Exhibition: "Between Capri and Rome. Hugo Paul Harrer"
Start: 2026-08-22T12:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-08-22T19:00:00+02:00
Location: Fürst Pückler Museum Park & Schloss Branitz

Italian Memories in Historical Branitz

The special exhibition Between Capri and Rome. Hugo Paul Harrer opens at the Prince Pückler Museum Park & Castle Branitz, providing a focused look at a 19th-century painter whose work oscillates between realistic observation and longing for Italy. At the center is an artistic estate that made its way into the Cottbus collection through Franziska Wickerath and is now being presented in its entirety for the first time.

A Life Between Romanticism and Reality

Hugo Paul Harrer, born in 1836 in Hirschberg in Silesia, turned to painting early on, seeking direct observation of nature rather than formal academy training. His biography takes him to Nuremberg, Munich, Rome, and Düsseldorf. In Rome, he created studies that drew attention due to their authenticity. Harrer developed a realistic painting style that combined architecture, ruins, and Italian coastal landscapes with precise observation and a keen eye for atmosphere.

Franziska Wickerath and the Journey of the Works to Cottbus

Particularly touching is the connection to the history of the collection and the city. Franziska Wickerath married painter Harrer in 1868, lived with him in Rome and on the Amalfi Coast, and after his early death, facilitated the public display of many of his works. Later living in Cottbus, she bequeathed numerous works of her first husband. Thus, a collection was formed that today belongs to the Carl-Blechen collection of the city of Cottbus and is being reinterpreted from an art historical perspective.

Drawings, Portraits, Vesuvius: The Italy of the Harrers

The cabinet exhibition presents drawings, the portrait of Franziska, and a freshly restored Vesuvius. This group of works vividly brings to life the Italy of the Harrers: sun-drenched motifs, architectural embellishments, ruins, and coastal views, combined with a precise, almost documentary hand. For art enthusiasts, a artistic experience emerges that expands the view of 19th-century realism and connects aesthetic experience with cultural historical depth.

Branitz as a Fitting Resonance Space

The Prince Pückler Museum Park & Castle Branitz offers a particularly harmonious setting for this exhibition. The house combines castle rooms, garden art, and collection history. Walking through Branitz, one not only experiences museum spaces but also an exhibition atmosphere where landscape, architecture, and art intertwine. Here, Harrer's perspective on Italy unfolds additional tension: between the desire to travel, memory, and careful observation of the works.

Conclusion: An Exhibition for Explorers

Between Capri and Rome. Hugo Paul Harrer promises a nuanced approach to a today little-known painter, whose works are alive with a sense of truth, travel experience, and Italian light. Those who appreciate 19th-century art, drawing, painting, and cultural historical connections should not miss this exhibition in Branitz.