Esmeralda with the Goat, ca. 1856

About the Acquisition

The Frankfurt Kunstverein (Art Society) was founded in 1829 with the aim of collectively furthering the arts. It initially regarded its primary role as supporting the Städel through the acquisition of artworks. At the beginning the Kunstverein and the Städel in fact shared premises, which in those days was still in Neue Mainzer Straße. Even after the Städel moved into its own building in 1878, the connection remained a close one. To this day, donations of art on the part of the society continue to express the shared tradition of art promotion and support.