The plaster cast collection of antique sculptures in the ‘Schlossmuseum’ in Mannheim (1803–1943)

• Applicant: Dr. Ellen Suchezky
• Subject Area: Classical, Roman, Christian and Islamic Archaeology
• Term: since 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 440391878

In 1803, a new plaster cast collection of antique sculptures was established by Karl Friedrich von Baden (1728–1811) in Mannheim. It consisted of more than 150 pieces. It was built up as a substitute for the famous so-called ‘Mannheimer Antikensaal’, which had been brought to Munich when Elector Palatine Carl Theodor (1724–1799) had to transfer his court from Mannheim to Munich in 1777. Today, this substitute collection is almost forgotten, although it had existed for 140 years until it was destroyed when Mannheim Palace was bombed by Allied troops during the Second World War. Based on archival sources, the research project aims at figuring out practical aspects of this collection’s history such as which objects were acquired and how the casts were presented as well as the different phases of changing responsibilities and objectives depending on different cultural, historical and political conditions.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants