Kunstmuseum Solothurn
Solothurn
Kunstmuseum Solothurn, established in 1902 in the Swiss town of Solothurn, is one of the region's most significant cultural institutions. Originally housing art, historical artifacts, and natural history collections, it evolved to focus exclusively on art after the natural history exhibits moved to a separate museum around 1980. The museum's collection spans from late medieval works to contemporary Swiss art, featuring five main divisions: old masters, Swiss landscapes from the 18th to 20th centuries, Swiss contemporary art, and two important collections from the Dûbi-Müller and Josef-Müller donors, which include international art from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Highlights include the "Madonna of the Strawberries" (c. 1425), Hans Holbein the Younger's "Solothurner Madonna," and paintings by Vincent van Gogh, Gustav Klimt, Paul Cézanne, and Ferdinand Hodler. The museum also emphasizes Swiss artists such as Jean Tinguely, Méret Oppenheim, and Bernhard Luginbühl, alongside contemporary creators like Daniel Spoerri and Roman Signer. Its exhibitions and rich holdings offer a comprehensive view of Swiss art history and international influences, making it a must-visit for art enthusiasts.
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Tip: The museum is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00, offering free admission. Visitors are encouraged to check the official website for current exhibitions and workshops. Guided tours for private groups can be arranged by appointment, providing deeper insight into the collections. Spring and early summer are ideal times to visit, when the museum hosts special exhibitions and outdoor art installations in its garden area.
Interesting facts
- •The museum houses the famous "Solothurner Madonna" by Hans Holbein the Younger, a key work of Renaissance art.
- •It possesses notable works by Vincent van Gogh, including "Portrait of the superintendent Trabuc in the Hospital Saint-Paul" (1889).
- •The museum's garden features exotic trees planted during its early natural history phase, including a mammoth tree.
- •Roman Signer created a kinetic fountain sculpture titled "Stiefel" (2004) for the museum's park.
- •The collection includes significant Swiss landscape paintings by artists such as Caspar Wolf and Ferdinand Hodler.
History
Founded in 1902 as the Museum of Art and Sciences, Kunstmuseum Solothurn initially combined art with natural history and ethnological collections reflecting early 20th-century colonial-era interests.
In the 1970s, the natural history section was relocated to a dedicated Naturmuseum, allowing the Kunstmuseum to concentrate solely on visual arts.
Over the decades, it has amassed one of Switzerland's most valuable art collections, enriched by generous donations from local collectors like Oscar Miller, Josef Müller, and Gertrud Dübi-Müller.
The museum's evolution reflects broader cultural shifts from colonial-era ethnology to modern and contemporary art appreciation.
Place Guide
Old Masters Collection
Features masterpieces like the "Madonna of the Strawberries" (c. 1425) and the "Solothurner Madonna" (1522) by Hans Holbein the Younger, alongside works by Frans Snyders and Jusepe de Ribera, illustrating the evolution of European art from the late Middle Ages to the Renaissance.
Swiss Landscape Paintings
Showcases landscapes from the 18th to 20th centuries by artists such as Caspar Wolf, Alexandre Calame, Félix Vallotton, Giovanni Giacometti, and local artist Otto Frölicher, capturing Switzerland's natural beauty across centuries.
Dûbi-Müller and Josef-Müller Collections
These collections focus on international art from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, featuring paintings by Vincent van Gogh, Gustav Klimt, Paul Cézanne, Henri Matisse, Edgar Degas, Auguste Renoir, and Swiss painter Ferdinand Hodler.
Swiss Contemporary Art
Highlights works by Jean Tinguely, Méret Oppenheim, Bernhard Luginbühl, Daniel Spoerri, Dieter Roth, Markus Raetz, Roman Signer, and others, representing the dynamic evolution of Swiss art in recent decades.
Contact
Phone: 032 626 93 80