Invitation to a press conference “Triumph of the Saxon Baroque: the Sculptor Paul Heermann”

Die Skulpturensammlung bis 1800

Im Zentrum der Schau steht di

The figure group will be presented as part of the first exhibition ever dedicated to this artist, and invites visitors to explore an important chapter in Saxon art history. Though Heermann created one of the most famous portraits of Augustus the Strong, a bust of the ruler, to this day he remains overshadowed by the more famous Balthasar Permoser. This exhibition will correct that imbalance.

The central showpiece is the group “Saturn and Ops”, which stands 1.4 metres or 4′ 7″ tall. It was presented at the TEFAF art fair in Maastricht in 2017 by the UK’s Tomasso gallery. Until then, it was in the possession of a Belgian art dealer, who bought the sculpture in 2008 when the art treasures of Lucklum Manor (Lower Saxony) were auctioned off. There is documentary evidence of the group’s presence at the Lucklum dwelling of the commander of the Teutonic Knights as far back as 1809, though it must have arrived there earlier. After five years of negotiation, the SKD has succeeded in acquiring this rarity just in time for the 350th anniversary of Heermann’s birth in January 2023. The purchase was made with the support of Ernst von Siemens Kunststiftung, Kulturstiftung der Länder (the Cultural Foundation of the German Federal States), Rudolf-August Oetker-Stiftung and the friends associations Raffaello e. V. and Paragone Dresden e. V.

The Skulpturensammlung owns some outstanding illustrations of Heermann’s skills: the bust portraying Augustus the Strong, the two allegorical busts “Autumn” and “Winter” and the 70-centimetre figure group “The Chastisement”. “Saturn and Ops” demonstrates how well his works stand up to his rival Permoser in terms of style and expression, making the acquisition of this piece a very important and worthwhile addition to the collection.

The sculpture shows the deep affection shared by the Roman deities Saturn and Ops, seen in ancient mythology as reigning over a Golden Age of happiness and abundance. As Augustus the Strong liked to be celebrated as Saturn, the piece can also be seen as a symbol of Saxony’s glittering Augustan era. It is not only the composition of the free-standing marble group that stands out: the nuances of the different textures of Ops’ skin, fine robes and voluminous drapery, the styled hair, Saturn’s muscled body and the lush plumage of his wings are all signs of great sculptural prowess. Every detail paints a picture of a master at the height of his creativity.

“Saturn & Ops” will be presented along with 15 other important works by Heermann, including loans from the GRASSI Museum of Applied Arts and Museum der Bildenden Künste (MdBK), both in Leipzig, and the Zwingerbauhütte restoration workshop, run by Staatsbetrieb Sächsisches Immobilien- und Baumanagement (SIB). The exhibition will be rounded off by works from other SKD collections, such as all four groups of putti allegorically depicting the struggle of earthly and heavenly love, exhibited together for the first time. Delicate works made of ivory and boxwood, alongside fragments of the sculptor’s works for the Zwinger and the Grosser Garten that have fallen victim to war and decay, will offer an insight into Heermann’s creative range.

Paul Heermann was born in the Ore Mountains in 1673 and became an apprentice to his uncle, the Saxon court sculptor George Heermann (c. 1645–c. 1700). From 1685 on, the two worked together on the monumental figures decorating the stone staircase leading up to Troja Palace, near Prague. After travelling Italy, in 1705 Paul Heermann settled in Dresden, not only working for the court, but also creating altars, commemorative plaques and garden sculptures in Leipzig and other places in Saxony. In 1732 he was appointed court sculptor.

The exhibition will be accompanied by the catalogue “Der sächsische Barockbildhauer Paul Heermann” (The Saxon Baroque Sculptor Paul Heermann), published by Sandstein Verlag. Published by Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Stephan Koja and Claudia Kryza-Gersch, 124 pages, 92 mainly colour illustrations, ISBN 978-3-95498-717-7, €19.80.