Wemhöner-Grabher collection

The Wemhöner-Grabher Collection is a private collection of Russian icons in Vorarlberg (Austria) and is represented by the Liechtenstein entrepreneurs Karl-Heinz Grabher (* 1951) and Dirk Wilhelm Wemhöner (* 1977).

Characteristic

Among the private collections in Western Europe, the collection is characterized by its size of around 700 individual objects, as well as by the various technical techniques documented in it, as well as by the range of painting styles. The collection has its origins in the early 1920s. It includes icons and oil painting, as well as carved panels and embroidery.

Most of the icons have retained their original metal fittings; some of the icons are preserved in the original boxes. The collection includes some icons from the 17th century and the first half of the 18th century. The majority of the works date from around 1750 to the beginning of the 20th century.

Art historical value

Almost all icons in the collection are in an unrestored condition, free of later additions and overpainting. On the basis of the original painting, all individual objects could be assessed by the Ipodiacon Nikolaus Thon , General Secretary of the Orthodox Bishops' Conference in Germany and Europe.

Exhibitions

The exhibition of 43 icons from the private collection took place for the first time in the Liechtenstein National Museum from November 26, 2013 to January 12, 2014. The vernissage was opened by museum director Rainer Vollkommer . The Liechtenstein Minister of Culture and Foreign Affairs Aurelia Frick praised the importance of the exhibition for the Principality of Liechtenstein . The guests of honor and keynote speakers were Longin von Klin , Archbishop and Head of the Permanent Mission of the Russian Orthodox Church in the European Union, and Wilfried Bergmann, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the German-Russian Forum , with explanations of the nature of the icon and the significance of the exhibition as a Represent the interface between culture and business.

literature

Rainer Vollkommer (Ed.): Kult & Kultur. Icons. Wemhöner-Grabherr collection. Catalog of the special exhibition Vaduz 2013 full text ; Full text, Russian edition .