Research on the Museum Collection

Provenance research is concerned with the circumstances of ownership-transfer for individual artworks and the history of the collection. This includes all items in the museum’s collection, which were created before 1945, and which have joined the holdings of the Kunstmuseum Bern since 1933. The Cornelius Gurlitt Estate is a particular focus in the collection.

Through its exhibits, public events and educational programs, the Kunstmuseum Bern offers frequent insight into provenance research. The Provenance-Research Department continues to be financially supported by private foundations.

Provenance research on the Collection of the Kunstmuseum Bern

Currents projects

With support from the Federal Office of Culture, the provenance of a further 238 paintings from the collection of the Kunstmuseum Bern is being researched until the autumn of 2024. The research will include paintings from the 19th and early 20th century which have played their part in shaping the collection.
Within the project, the museum documentation will be evaluated and documents in the museum archive and associated archives will be searched. The results will be published in fall 2024.
Project manager: Dr Nikola Doll
Researcher: Renato Moser, M.A.
Research assistant: Leïla Bolis

Completed Projects

Project management: Dr. Nikola Doll
Scientific Associate: Renato Moser, M. A.
- Provenienzberichte zu 297 Werken aus dem Sammlungsbestand (PDF)
- Abschlussbericht zu den Provenienzrecherchen an 297 Werken aus dem Sammlungsbestand (PDF)
A conference organized by the Kunstmuseum Bern and the Zentrum Paul Klee
Bern, 9 and 10 September 2021
Venue: Live-Stream und Zentrum Paul Klee, Auditorium
Project Management:
Dr. Nikola Doll, Kunstmuseum Bern
Dr. Fabienne Eggelhöfer, Zentrum Paul Klee

Scientific Associates:
Renato Moser, M. A., Kunstmuseum Bern
Marie Kakinuma, M. A., Zentrum Paul Klee
Georges Frédéric Keller (Paris 1899 – 1981 Davos) left his art possessions to the Kunstmuseum Bern in 1981. Some of the most important works in the collection were transferred as permanent loans to the museum as early as 1951. These include paintings by Pablo Picasso, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Amedeo Modigliani, Henri Matisse and Maurice Utrillo. According to Keller’s last will, the legacy would be supplemented through estate funding to include works from French Modernists. Frederike Mulot and Renato Moser led the research into the circumstances of purchase for the legacy’s paintings, sculptures and graphic prints. Nine indigenous works made up a special group within Keller’s private collection.
The results of this research are documented for each individual work; the final report offers a summary.
Project Management: Dr. Nikola Doll
Scientific Associate: Frederike Mulot, M. A.
Project Assistance: Renato Moser, M. A.
From fall 2016 until the end of August 2018, support from the Federal Office of Culture made possible the provenance clarification of 26 artworks in the collections of the Kunstmuseum Bern.
The results of this research are documented for each individual work; the final report offers a summary.

Project Management: Dr. Nikola Doll
Scientific Associate: Dr. Valentina Locatelli.
- Provenienzberichte (PDF)
- Schlussbericht (PDF)
The Kunstmuseum Bern’s archive has been organized in collaboration with the Fokus AG für Wissen und Organisation (Zurich). The holdings are documented in a finding aid and can be viewed upon written request.
Finding aid and user regulations are available online. The final report offers a project description.
Project Management: Dr. Nikola Doll
Scientific Associate: Dr. Rainer Lawicki

With the support of

Research on the Museum Collection

Provenance research on the Collection of the Kunstmuseum Bern

Currents projects

Provenance research: acquisitions made since 1933 (Paintings III), 2023 – 2024

Completed Projects

Provenances of the acquisitions since 1933 (Paintings II). Research – Documentation – Publication, 2021 – 2022 (project)

Deposits. Relocation of Cultural Property due to Persecution an the Consequences for Swiss Museums

Provenance research on the legacy of Georges Frédéric Keller, 2019 – 2020

Provenance research on selected acquisitions since 1933 (Painting I), 2016 – 2018

Cataloguing of the museum Archive, 2016–2018