Ernst von Bandel's Four Seasons return to the Lippe State Museum!

Ernst von Bandel's Four Seasons return to the Lippe State Museum!

On May 15, 2025, the impressive sculpture group “The Four Seasons” by the renowned sculptor Ernst von Bandel was presented in the Lippe State Museum. This return to the artist's homeland has been greeted with joy by both historians and art lovers.

Those present at the event included prominent personalities, including Jörg Düning-Gast, head of the association, and Dr. Michael Zelle, director of the Lippe State Museum. Günter Weigel, managing director of Lippe Tourismus, as well as the tour guides Cornelia Müller-Hisje and Carl-Heinz Helwig were also present. Jörg Düning-Gast expressed his joy about the purchase and the successful collaboration with the donors, while Dr. Zelle described the characters as “real badass”.

Historical context and first steps of Bandel

Ernst von Bandel, who was born in Ansbach on May 17, 1800, was not only a sculptor, but also the creator of the famous Hermann monument. He received his artistic training at the “Academy Building School” in Munich after he began developing his own designs at the age of 16. Particularly worth mentioning is his time in Italy between 1825 and 1827, which made a decisive contribution to his artistic career. Bandel later married Karoline von Kohlhagen, who gave him lasting support in his ambitions.

The sculptures from the group “The Four Seasons” were made starting in 1843 and depict detailed children’s figures that symbolize the different seasons. The faces of Bandel's daughter Angelika (Spring) and son Armin (Summer), which are immortalized in the figures, are striking.

Return of the sculptures to the local museum

The sculpture group, which cost around 30,000 euros, was acquired for the museum with the support of Lippe Tourismus und Marketing GmbH. These figures, which were originally owned by the family, came to Dresden via several stops and were returned to the former owners after reunification. Cornelia Müller-Hisje discovered it shortly before the planned sale and purchased it for the Lippe State Museum.

It is significant that Ernst von Bandel's widow had already offered the artist's estate to the city of Detmold, but this was rejected. The acquisition of the sculptures complements the collection on Ernst von Bandel and the Hermannsdenkmal, which has already repeatedly attracted public interest.

225th birthday celebrations

Ernst von Bandel's 225th birthday will also be celebrated on May 18, 2025. Several events are planned to mark these celebrations, including a special tour entitled “The Myth of the Varus Battle and the Hermann Monument” at 3 p.m. as well as a picture lecture “225 Years of Ernst von Bandel – More than just the Hermann Monument!” at 4:30 p.m. Entry to the museum and participation in the events is free, providing a perfect opportunity for those interested to learn more about Bandel's heritage.

The sculpture group will now be on display in the museum's permanent collection, which already includes exhibitions about Bandel as an architect, sculptor and painter, including his sketches and building plans. This not only honors his artistic work, but also keeps a fundamental piece of cultural history alive.

For more information about Ernst von Bandel and his work, visit the website of Hermann monument and LWZ24.