Selma von der Heydt
Selma von der Heydt (* August 5, 1862 in Elberfeld as Selma Haarhaus ; † August 5, 1944 in Godesberg ) was together with her husband August Freiherr von der Heydt (1851–1929) an art collector and patron specializing in modern art .
Life
Her father was the Elberfeld textile entrepreneur Gustav Haarhaus (1831–1911), her mother was Ida Auguste nee. Anders (1838–1876). The grandfather was the manufacturer Jacob Wilhelm Haarhaus , who was president of the Chamber of Commerce of Elberfeld and Barmen among other honorary posts. She had two sisters, Ida, called Itti, (1861–1954) and Bertha (1863–1875). With her sister Itti and her family, including brother-in-law Julius Schmits (1855-1916), she had a lifelong close friendship.
On November 11, 1880, at the age of 18, she married the banker's son August von der Heydt. The marriage resulted in the two sons August (1881–1943) and Eduard (1882–1964). A third son, Robert Bernhard, died shortly after he was born in 1889.
Selma and August von der Heydt have repeatedly committed themselves to the common good of the city of Elberfeld . Thanks to Selma's commitment, the first German Heine memorial was erected in Küllenhahn , which was later destroyed by the National Socialists . Selma and August shared a pronounced passion for the art of German Expressionists such as Emil Nolde , Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Oskar Kokoschka . Over the years they built up an extensive collection of paintings that became an essential part of the later Von der Heydt Museum in Wuppertal.
The couple built a spacious summer residence on the Königshöhe in several stages of expansion . The building is now a listed building. It was developed by the family into a place of art care. The poet Rainer Maria Rilke stayed in the house as a guest. Selma was also chairwoman of the Richard Wagner Association . With the beginning of the Weimar Republic at the time of hyperinflation , the couple moved to Godesberg and sold the summer residence to the city of Elberfeld.
Selma was also involved in the charitable sector. During the First World War, she campaigned for the care of wounded soldiers. She was a member of the board of directors of the Red Cross and the Patriotic Women's Association .
Her husband August died in 1929. In memory of her husband, Selma donated part of her art collection to the Von der Heydt Museum in Elberfeld. She herself died in 1944, one year after the death of her son August.
The Wuppertal Selmaweg was named after her.
Remarks
- ↑ a b c d Elke Brychta, Anna-Maria Reinhold: Selma von der Heydt . In: Equality between women and men - City of Wuppertal . Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
- ^ A b c Marie-Luise Baum: The von der Heydts from Elberfeld . Verlag JH Born, Wuppertal 1964, pp. 30–34 and 68.
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Heydt, Selma von der |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Haarhaus, Selma (maiden name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | German art patron |
| DATE OF BIRTH | August 5, 1862 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Elberfeld |
| DATE OF DEATH | August 5, 1944 |
| Place of death | Godesberg |