PHILIPP OTTO RUNGE

PHILIPP OTTO RUNGE. The Times – The Morning | published in occasion of the opening of the Galerie der Gegenwart in february 1997
catalogue of the collection | 48 pages | 36 illustrations | softcover | german edition

The so-called Great Morning, Philipp Otto Runge's most mature painting, which the artist left unfinished at the age of 33 in 1810, makes the story of failure of a utopia almost physically tangible in its present state. On his deathbed, Runge instructed his brother Daniel to cut it up and destroy it, fearing that some of the "incorrect" aspects in it would spread "misapprehension" about his artistic intentions, but took this back at Daniel's request. Thus the picture remained in the possession of the widow Pauline, and after her death in 1881 it was given to her son Philipp Otto, in whose apartment on the Große Burstah it hung unframed in the guest room until 1890.