Exhibitions / Art
12.01. – 03.10.2026
Faces of Merchants
The exhibition “Faces of Merchants” is inspired by an excerpt from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s diary during his journey to Italy. The poet arrived in Bozen in September 1786, at the time of one of the four major international annual fairs. The lively city life and the merchants’ faces, radiating wealth and self-confidence, left a deep impression on him.
The exhibition features portraits of merchants who, at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, played a key role in Bozen’s rise as a prosperous trading city and were personally involved in the activities of the Mercantile Magistrate. The works are on loan from public institutions and private collectors, depicting men in authoritative poses, holding correspondence, account books, or professional objects. They are often accompanied by portraits of their wives, who belonged to the new mercantile nobility and contributed significantly to the success of family businesses through their dowries, wealth, and splendid residences.
The exhibition also presents some objects related to patronage, donated by merchants on special occasions. Most of these portraits, created by renowned artists of the time such as Carl Henrici, Martin Knoller, Giuseppe Tominz, and Friedrich Wasmann, were typically displayed in the private homes of the patrons or in their business premises. These are unique original works, bearing witness to the golden age of Bozen as a trading city and the development of the local society.
Curator: Helmut Rizzolli
Exhibition management and coordination: Elisabetta Carnielli
Exhibition project and graphics: Roberto Festi
Venue: Mercantile Building Bozen, Laubengasse 39
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Article & Photo: ©Verkehrsamt der Stadt Bozen – www.bolzano-bozen.it