Wilhelm Waetzoldt

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Wilhelm Waetzoldt gives the opening speech at the opening of the Pergamon Museum (1930)

Wilhelm Waetzoldt (born February 21, 1880 in Hamburg ; † January 5, 1945 in Halle ) was a German art historian , professor of art history in Halle, secret councilor in the Prussian Ministry of Culture and from 1927 to 1933 director general of the State Museums in Berlin .

Life

Wilhelm Waetzoldt's father was the philologist and educator Stephan Waetzoldt (1849–1904). He received his school education at various schools in Berlin, Magdeburg and Hamburg. In 1899 he passed his Abitur at the “Unser Lieben Frauen” high school in Magdeburg.

He then began studying art history, philosophy and literary history in Berlin and Magdeburg . He completed this with a dissertation on Friedrich Hebbel in 1903. From 1908 to 1909 Waetzoldt worked as an assistant at the Art History Institute in Florence . The knowledge and impressions gained in Italy were reflected in later publications. Employment at the Warburg Library in Hamburg (1909–1911) and the Berlin State Museums (1911–1912) followed. In 1912 he was appointed full professor for modern art history at the University of Halle . During World War I Waetzoldt served on the western front with the rank of lieutenant and took part in the battle of Soissons . He was wounded twice and was awarded the Iron Cross, 2nd class. In 1916, as a result of his war wound, he was transferred to the Landwehr and was able to continue teaching in Halle.

In 1920 Waetzoldt was appointed lecturer in the Prussian Ministry of Culture and in 1927 he was appointed general director of the Berlin State Museums. The new building of the Pergamon Museum falls during his term of office . In 1929 he was appointed Senator of the Prussian Academy of the Arts . He also worked as an honorary professor at the University of Berlin. With the seizure of power of the Nazis in 1933, he was removed from office. He was charged with financial irregularities, promoting modern art, and supporting and employing Jews. His successor was Otto Kümmel . Waetzoldt was able to dispel the allegation of financial irregularities. He refused to accept responsibility for the Nationalgalerie's acquisition policy, in particular the inclusion of Emil Nolde's pictures . Waetzoldt was later offered to regain his office in connection with joining the NSDAP , which the latter refused. In September 1933, however, he became a member of the NSKK . Against the will of the co-ordinated rectorate of the University of Halle, Waetzoldt was appointed full professor of art history at the Philosophical Faculty in 1934, where he also served as acting dean of the Philosophical Faculty from 1938 to 1940.

Wilhelm Waetzoldt was the father of the art historian Stephan Waetzoldt (1920–2008) and the military historian Ursula von Gersdorff (née Waetzoldt, also Countess Vitzthum von Eckstädt, 1910–1983).

Publications (selection)

See the list of publications in Germany - Italy. Festschrift for Wilhelm Waetzoldt on his 60th birthday, February 21, 1940 . G. Grote, Berlin 1941, pp. Xx-xxxvi.

  • The work of art as an organism (1905)
  • The Art of the Portrait (1908)
  • Introduction to the visual arts . 2 volumes (1911)
  • Portraits of German art historians . EA Seemann, Leipzig 1921 ( Library of Art History 14)
  • German art historian . 2 volumes, EA Seemann, Leipzig 1921/24 ( digitized volume 1 , volume 2 )
  • Dürer and his time . Phaidon Verlag, Vienna 1935; Gutenberg Book Guild, Frankfurt am Main 1956
  • Dürer's Knight, Death and the Devil (1936)
  • You and the art. An Introduction to Art Viewing and Art History (1938)
  • Hans Holbein the Younger. Work and world . G. Grothe, Berlin (1938)
  • Burckhardt as an art historian (1940)
  • German works of art: described by German poets ( Dieterich Collection 96). Dieterich, Leipzig 1940.
  • Italian works of art in master descriptions ( Dieterich Collection 105) Dieterich, Leipzig 1942.
  • Niccolò Machiavelli . Bruckmann, Munich 1943.
  • Creative imagination: essays and glosses ( Dieterich Collection 11). Dieterich, Wiesbaden 1947.

literature

  • Germany - Italy. Contributions to the cultural relations between north and south. Festschrift for Wilhelm Waetzoldt on his 60th birthday, February 21, 1940 . G. Grote, Berlin 1941
  • Gisela Schunck: Wilhelm Waetzold. University teacher, art advisor for the Weimar Republic, director general of the Berlin State Museums . In: Jahrbuch Preußischer Kulturbesitz 30, 1994, pp. 407–491.
  • Bärbel Holtz (edit / ed.): The minutes of the Prussian State Ministry 1925–1938 / 38. Vol. 12 / II. (1925–1938) ( Acta Borussica . New series .) Olms-Weidmann, Hildesheim 2004, ISBN 3-487-12704-0 , p.
  • Peter Betthausen: Wilhelm Waetzoldt . In: Metzler-Kunsthistoriker-Lexikon . 210 portraits of German-speaking authors from four centuries. 2nd, updated and expanded edition. JB Metzler, Stuttgart, Weimar 2007, ISBN 978-3-476-02183-0 , pp. 472-475 .

Web links

Remarks

  1. ^ Peter Betthausen: Wilhelm Waetzoldt . In: Metzler-Kunsthistoriker-Lexikon . 210 portraits of German-speaking authors from four centuries. 2nd, updated and expanded edition. JB Metzler, Stuttgart, Weimar 2007, ISBN 978-3-476-02183-0 , pp. 473 .
  2. ↑ NSKK membership with: Bärbel Holtz (Ed.): The Protocols of the Prussian State Ministry 1925–1938 / 38. Vol. 12 / II (1925-1938) . ( Acta Borussica . New episode ). Olms-Weidmann, Hildesheim 2004. ISBN 3-487-12704-0 , p. 721.
personal data
SURNAME Waetzoldt, Wilhelm
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German art historian
DATE OF BIRTH February 21, 1880
PLACE OF BIRTH Hamburg
DATE OF DEATH January 5, 1945
Place of death Halle (Saale)