Über die Sammlung
Sammlung: Sammlung Groß ( Staatliche Schlösser, Burgen und Gärten Sachsen gGmbH, Burg Gnandstein )
The Gross Collection – A family passion for collecting
Donated in 2004 to the Free State of Saxony by Margarete Gross (1921-2006), custodian of the Gross collection and widow of Professor Dr Kurt Adolf Gross (1887 - 1969), whose family had built the collection over many generations. The Gross family were merchants who lived near Leipzig in Saxony and later close to Bamberg in Bavaria.
On 17th June 2004 the collection of Professor Dr Kurt Adolf Gross of Erlangen was donated to the Free State of Saxony to be housed at Gnandstein Castle. The collection consists of more than 300 works of art with a total value of around 1.5 million Euros.
The Gross collection is made up of more than 300 diverse works of art which include porcelain and ceramics, pewter, silver, brass, furniture, clocks, paintings, glass, graphic art and sculpture from the 14th to the 20th century. The foundations of the collection were laid by Johann Benedikt Groß (1760-1826), who concentrated mainly on Saxon art. Later, when the family moved to the region of Franconia north of Nuremberg, a growing number of art works from Bavaria were added.
This eclectic collection contains many highlights, such as its range of 18th and 19th century Meissen porcelain, which includes tableware, vases, cake stands (étagères) and figurines. Among the notable pieces of furniture are a Frankish tabernacle, the so called “Brockhaus Wardrobe”: a linen cupboard which belonged to the Brockhaus family from Leipzig and a Frankish wave cabinet as well as various 18th and 19th century chests of drawers. However, the collection’s greatest treasures can be found among its paintings, which number more than 70 works. Examples include “Mary with Child” by Jan Brueghel the Elder and “Mary with Child and Joseph” by the unknown artist known only as the “Master of the Female Half-Lengths”, circa 1500. There are also works by Adrian van der Venne, another by an unknown artist known as “The Master with the Parrot”, Frans de Hülst, the Bemmel Brothers and a painting on board by a member of the circle of Pietro di Sano as well as a number of 15th century Flemish paintings.
There are also more than 30 well preserved religious sculptures from the 14th to the 18th century, which are just as fascinating. The Gross Collection is an extremely valuable addition to Gnandstein Castle’s permanent exhibition.