The Liebieghaus is dedicating a major exhibition to the renowned sculptor August Gaul (1869–1921), showcasing his multifaceted oeuvre. Gaul is regarded as one of Germany’s first modern sculptors. Around 1900, he opened a new chapter in the history of sculpture with his strikingly realistic depictions of animals, deliberately distancing himself from the decorative tendencies of nineteenth-century sculpture. His works range from finely crafted statuettes to monumental sculptures in public spaces. Rather than depicting animals as symbols of power or domination, Gaul presents them as autonomous beings, shaped by his careful observation of nature and a clear, reduced formal language. Like many sculptors of his time, Gaul was interested in reality. His works captivate through their presence alone, without the need for symbolism.

With around 100 works in bronze, ceramic and marble, the exhibition invites visitors to experience the unique autonomy of sculpture. These include numerous loans from Berlin, Hamburg, Hanau and Leipzig, as well as the nearly complete private Frankfurt collection of Carlo Giersch. Extending across almost all areas of the Liebieghaus, the presentation places Gaul’s work in a multi-layered dialogue with representations of animals spanning three millennia—from animal worship in Ancient Egypt to the hybrid creatures of Greek mythology, domestic animals in ancient Rome and Christian symbolism. A particular highlight is the life-size eagle installed in the garden, originally created by Gaul for the Kaiser Wilhelm National Memorial in Berlin. Rather than appearing in the typical heroic pose, the bird is depicted landing at its nest. In this way, Gaul exemplifies his artistic programme of showing animals as they are. His work also engages with contemporary scientific and zoological research, including that of Charles Darwin. This is strikingly evident in the juxtaposition of Gaul’s portrait of the orangutan “Jumbo” with an ancient portrait of the Roman emperor and philosopher Marcus Aurelius.

The exhibition highlights the close connection between art and science in Gaul’s work. It also addresses socially relevant topics, such as big game hunting, factory farming and species conservation. The exhibition concludes with a media installation featuring animal images from social networks, offering a contemporary perspective on the relationship between humans and animals.

Curator: Prof Dr Vinzenz Brinkmann (Head of the Department of Antiquities and Asia, Liebieghaus Skulpturensammlung)
Project Manager: Jakob Salzmann (Curatorial Assistant, Department of Antiquities and Asia, Liebieghaus Skulpturensammlung)

Sponsored by: Stiftung Giersch, Kulturfonds Frankfurt RheinMain gGmbH, Städelscher Museums-Verein e.V., Frankfurter Volksbank Rhein/Main