A Life of Art and Curation
Wilhelm Lambert Krahe was a German history painter and art collector born in Düsseldorf. His early life led him to the Papal Court in 1736 as part of Ferdinand von Plettenberg's entourage. Following the death of his patron, Krahe found support from the German Jesuits and is said to have worked in the studios of Marco Benefial and Pierre Subleyras. Throughout his career, he served various notable patrons, including Cardinal Alessandro Albani and Johann Joachim Winckelmann.
In 1749, Krahe was pensioned to Charles Theodore, Elector of Bavaria, for whom he painted altarpieces for the Jesuit Church in Mannheim. His professional roles expanded as he became head of the Düsseldorf Art Gallery and oversaw new galleries in Mannheim and Munich. He also received a commission to paint ceilings in the library and ballrooms at Schloss Benrath.
The Legacy of the Collection
Beyond his work as a painter, Krahe achieved great significance through his art collection. Begun in Rome and expanded during travels through Germany, Holland, and France, the collection grew to include 332 paintings and oil sketches, alongside thousands of drawings and prints from the 15th to 18th centuries. This assembly remains a vital collection of Italian Baroque drawings.
The collection features works by several masters:
- Graphic works by Raphael, Michelangelo, and Paolo Veronese
- Larger works by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Pietro da Cortona, and Giuseppe Passeri
- Woodcuts by Albrecht Dürer
- Engravings by Martin Schongauer
- Etchings by Rembrandt
