1204 - Rainer Ilg et al., portfolio "Album für Anna Amalia", reopening of the Anna Amalia Library, 2007

Rainer Ilg et al., portfolio "Album für Anna Amalia", reopening of the Anna Amalia Library, 2007 Aquatint etching on paper, portfolio "Album für Anna Amalia", 2007, signed by the artists on the imprint sheet and edition-inscribed "e.a." (artist's copy), the etchings each signed and dated 2007 lower right, titled "Herzogin Anna Amalia Bibliothek" and inscribed "e.a." lower left, portfolio with six aquatint etchings by Rainer Ilg, six sonnets by Andreas Reimann, three poems by Liane Bosse, composition for solo violin "Charis I" and "Charis II" by Siegfried Thiele and a foreword by Michael Knoche, title sheet, foreword and "Charis I" and "Charis II" included twice, published for the reopening of the Herzogin Anna Amalia Bibliothek in Weimar after the fire of 2 September 2004, Ilg's etchings show the Rococo Hall of the library with busts and columns after drawings the artist made in May 2004 before the fire, ochre portfolio with title label, good condition, portfolio corners somewhat worn, overall 55.5x41.5 cm (HxW). The Weimar library goes back to a systematic collection begun in 1691 under Duke Wilhelm Ernst; since 1991 it has been named after the Duchess. In the fire of 2 September 2004, about 50,000 volumes were burnt; it was the largest library fire in German post-war history. The historic building was reopened on 24 October 2007, Anna Amalia's birthday. Since 1998 the library has been part of the World Heritage site "Klassisches Weimar". Michael Knoche, author of the foreword, directed the library for 25 years until 2016. The "Album für Anna Amalia" was published in Leipzig in 2007 as issue 4 of the "mitteilungen der gaab".