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An important addition to the personal papers of Hermann Kaulbach: 200 original drawings and diaries of his daughter

In the autumn of 2018, the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek acquired an important supplement of the personal papers (Ana 652) of Hermann Kaulbach (1846 – 1909). The son of the "prince of painters" Wilhelm von Kaulbach (1805 – 1874) became famous as a genre painter in particular. At the same time, he was at the centre of the Munich society. The most notable persons of his time were frequent guests at his house.

Hermann Kaulbach to his eight-year-old daughter Dorothea | © BSB

Hermann Kaulbach to his eight-year-old daughter Dorothea | © BSB

Together with around 200 original drawings, the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek has managed to acquire also the unpublished, type-written diaries of Dorothea May, the daughter of Hermann Kaulbach. These are four bound, large-format volumes (slightly larger than Din A 4), encompassing a total of around 480 pages. Reading the diary, an exciting panorama of the Munich society of the time unfolds from the perspective of the family's personal experience. This unique document is also graphically illustrated in a very descriptive and appealing manner, including numerous letters, poems, drawings and sketches by Hermann Kaulbach and many original photographs.

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