When does the exhibition take place?

On 27.08.2026 starting at 10:00 am at the Fürst Pückler Museum Park & Castle Branitz in Cottbus.

How much is the admission fee?

The regular admission is €11, reduced is €8. Children and youth up to 18 years have free admission.

Is the exhibition indoors?

Yes, the event takes place indoors in Castle Branitz.

Is the castle barrier-free?

No, Castle Branitz is unfortunately not barrier-free and is not accessible for wheelchair users.

What content does the exhibition show?

The exhibition showcases, for the first time comprehensively, works and drawings by Hugo Paul Harrer, as well as a portrait of Franziska Wickerath and a restored Vesuvius.

Where is the venue located?

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

Italy's Light, a Family History, and Rare Painting at Castle Branitz

Name: Special Exhibition: Between Capri and Rome. Hugo Paul Harrer
Start: 2026-08-27T12:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-08-27T19:00:00+02:00
Location: Fürst Pückler Museum Park & Schloss Branitz

Italian Light and Art Historical Exploration in Branitz

The special exhibition Between Capri and Rome. Hugo Paul Harrer at the Fürst Pückler Museum Park & Castle Branitz takes you into a sensitive world of 19th-century painting. The focus is on works, drawings, and a biographically rich family history that tells the story of Rome, the Amalfi Coast, and Cottbus. The exhibition comprehensively presents the collection related to Hugo Paul Harrer for the first time, including the portrait of Franziska Wickerath and a newly restored Vesuvius. ([cottbus.de](https://cottbus.de/veranstaltungen/ausstellungseroeffnung-zwischen-capri-und-rom-hugo-paul-harrer/))

Hugo Paul Harrer between Düsseldorf School and Italian Atmosphere

Hugo Paul Harrer was born in 1836 and developed into a respected painter without academic training. The German Biography describes him as an artist characterized by precise observation of nature, architectural motifs, and modern realism. After stays in Nuremberg, Munich, Rome, and Düsseldorf, he produced paintings that combine ruins, city views, and landscapes with great fidelity to the image. It is precisely this combination of topographical precision and poetic mood that makes his work remarkable today. ([deutsche-biographie.de](https://www.deutsche-biographie.de/sfz26126.html))

Branitz as a Place of Collection and Contextualization

The Fürst Pückler Museum Park & Castle Branitz has preserved the Carl Blechen Collection of the city of Cottbus since 1946 and has been managing it scientifically and conservatively since 2022. In this art historical context, the cabinet exhibition unfolds a special effect: it links personal memory, collection history, and museum work to a condensed art experience. Visitors encounter not just individual sheets and paintings, but also a narrative about provenance, restoration, and art historical classification. ([cottbus.de](https://cottbus.de/allgemein/carl-blechen-sammlung-der-stadt-cottbus-chosebuz-soll-zur-stiftung-fuerst-pueckler-museum-park-und-schloss-branitz-gehoeren/))

What the Exhibition Makes Visible

The focus is on works from the Italian circle of the Harrers, including views from Rome, coastal motifs, and drawing studies. The exhibition thus highlights the historical longing for the South that was defining for many artists in the 19th century. At the same time, the role of Franziska Wickerath becomes clear, who preserved her husband's works after his early death and later lived in Cottbus. This creates an exhibition that tells art history as a living biography and as a museum experience. ([cottbus.de](https://cottbus.de/veranstaltungen/ausstellungseroeffnung-zwischen-capri-und-rom-hugo-paul-harrer/))

Visitor Experience at Castle Branitz

Castle Branitz is not barrier-free and is not accessible for wheelchair users. Nevertheless, the visit is worth it, especially because of the atmospheric interplay of castle, park, and exhibition: the historical rooms, the collection, and the Italian references create a calm, focused framework for viewing the works and cultural education. Those who appreciate 19th-century painting, garden art, and museum atmosphere will find a rewarding destination here. ([cottbus.de](https://cottbus.de/veranstaltungen/inklusive-schlossfuehrung-fuer-sehbehinderte-und-blinde-2/))

Conclusion: Between Capri and Rome. Hugo Paul Harrer opens the view for a rarely shown artist position, for the connection of Rome, Amalfi, and Cottbus, and for the fine work of a house that takes collection history seriously. This exhibition promises quiet intensity, art historical depth, and an aesthetic experience that one should experience on-site. ([cottbus.de](https://cottbus.de/veranstaltungen/ausstellungseroeffnung-zwischen-capri-und-rom-hugo-paul-harrer/))