New Yearbook of Prussian Cultural Heritage published
Press release from 05/16/2014
The recently published, comprehensive 48th volume of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Yearbook looks back on 2012, the year in which both the new General Reading Room of the State Library in the Unter den Linden building and the Archaeological Centre were completed. Also documented are the openings of the exhibitions "Russians & Germans. 1000 Years of Art, History and Culture" and "In the Light of Amarna. 100 years of the discovery of Nefertiti". The yearbook also focuses in particular on the debate surrounding the reorganisation of the museum landscape, the theme year for the 300th anniversary of Frederick the Great's birth and the Humboldt Forum. The current volume takes up the topic of provenance research, which has been an issue at the SPK for years, with reference to the landmark agreement in the Glaser restitution case.
For the SPK, 2012 was particularly characterised by the public debate surrounding the reorganisation of its collections of Old Masters and 20th century art. The yearbook contains extensive press documentation on the controversial discussion. It is supplemented by a text by the former Director General of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Peter-Klaus Schuster. An article by Julien Chapuis, head of the sculpture collection, is dedicated to the opportunities of a joint presentation of painting and sculpture from an art historical perspective.
The yearbook also contains the content concept developed by Martin Heller for the Humboldt Forum. It is supplemented by a text by Hermann Parzinger on the current state of planning and by the reprint of a fundamental speech by Neil MacGregor, Director of the British Museum, on the challenges and opportunities in dealing with global collections in a global city.
Before the north wing of the Pergamonmuseum was closed in the autumn of 2012 for major renovation work, the last highlight to be held there was the successful exhibition "Pergamon. Panorama of the Ancient Metropolis", which is reflected in an article. In future, the north wing will house the Museum of Islamic Art, which presents the detailed new concept for its future permanent exhibition in the yearbook.
The 300th anniversary of Frederick the Great's birth in 2012 was the occasion for the Foundation and its five institutions to put on a varied programme of exhibitions and events under the motto "Art - King - Enlightenment". The anniversary is also addressed in this volume: Several articles are dedicated to various facets of Frederick II's personality and reign and their influence on collections that belong to the SPK today. Other topics in the yearbook: Outstanding papyrus research in Berlin. The chequered history of the Villa von der Heydt, the official residence of the President of the SPK, which was built 150 years ago. Important new acquisitions such as the Piano Concerto No. 2 by Carl Maria von Weber. The reorganisation of the State Library's special collections in the 1190s. The picture agency bpk as a commercial media service provider for cultural institutions. In the Chronicle and Appendix sections, the yearbook provides an overview of exhibitions, publications and outstanding events in the reporting period, as well as the composition of the Foundation's bodies and institutions.
Jahrbuch Preußischer Kulturbesitz, Vol. XLVIII / 2012, Berlin: Gebr. Mann Verlag, 2014; 640 pages with 183 illustrations, 122 of which are in colour
ISBN 978-3-7861-2696-6, ISSN 0342-0124
Price: €35.00
Review copies are available from Gebr. Mann Verlag:
ischulze(at)reimer-verlag(dot)de
Tel.: +49-30-7 00 00 13 88-32