Calendar of the Francke Foundations
Hidden Knowledge
Presentation of the Catalogue for the Annual Exhibition in a Hybrid Web Talk
In the early modern period, cabinets of curiosities were places of wonder and discovery. They brought together natural specimens, works of art, and curiosities, forming systems of knowledge in which science, religion, and aesthetic display were closely intertwined. A particularly striking example is the cabinet of curiosities established from 1735 onward by Gottfried August Gründler at the Orphanage. Conceived as a pedagogical teaching collection, it has been preserved to this day in remarkable integrity: the historic room, the display cabinets, the objects, and their system of order form a unique and coherent whole.
On the occasion of the annual exhibition, we will present the accompanying catalogue in a web talk, which serves as a kind of »user’s guide« to the Orphanage’s art and natural history cabinet. In a moderated conversation, the editors and curators of the exhibition, Tom Gärtig and Holger Zaunstöck, moderated by Martin Becker, will offer insights into the rediscovery and reconstruction of the cabinet, explain its system of order, and discuss new research findings. Topics include objects long thought lost, postcolonial perspectives on artefacts from the so-called »Malarenschrank«, and the use of the cabinet in the eighteenth century.
The evening will conclude with a look at contemporary approaches to cabinets of curiosities and their museological reinterpretations in a European context.
How can you participate?
The event will take place in a hybrid format. If you are unable or prefer not to attend in person at the Orphanage, the livestream (Cisco Webex, in German and English) offers a convenient opportunity to participate from home and to submit your questions to the speakers via the chat.
Highlights
Kultur-Aperitif
21. January 2026
Kurze, pointierte und unterhaltsame Führung zur Mittagszeit mit geselligem Ausklang
Der Besuch des preußischen Königs
22. January 2026
Theatraler Rundgang durch das Historische Waisenhaus
Familienstunde im Museum
01. February 2026
Kolloquium im Dr. Liselotte Kirchner-Stipendienprogramm
02. February 2026
Healing body and soul. Medicine and Hygiene in the 18th Century
02. May - 17. October 2021
In 1721, the foundation stone for the children's hospital in Germany was laid at the Francke Foundations. The 300th anniversary of this event is the occasion for the annual...
Events
Hidden Knowledge
Presentation of the Catalogue for the Annual Exhibition in a Hybrid Web Talk
In the early modern period, cabinets of curiosities were places of wonder and discovery. They brought together natural specimens, works of art, and curiosities, forming systems of knowledge in which science, religion, and aesthetic display were closely intertwined. A particularly striking example is the cabinet of curiosities established from 1735 onward by Gottfried August Gründler at the Orphanage. Conceived as a pedagogical teaching collection, it has been preserved to this day in remarkable integrity: the historic room, the display cabinets, the objects, and their system of order form a unique and coherent whole.
On the occasion of the annual exhibition, we will present the accompanying catalogue in a web talk, which serves as a kind of »user’s guide« to the Orphanage’s art and natural history cabinet. In a moderated conversation, the editors and curators of the exhibition, Tom Gärtig and Holger Zaunstöck, moderated by Martin Becker, will offer insights into the rediscovery and reconstruction of the cabinet, explain its system of order, and discuss new research findings. Topics include objects long thought lost, postcolonial perspectives on artefacts from the so-called »Malarenschrank«, and the use of the cabinet in the eighteenth century.
The evening will conclude with a look at contemporary approaches to cabinets of curiosities and their museological reinterpretations in a European context.
How can you participate?
The event will take place in a hybrid format. If you are unable or prefer not to attend in person at the Orphanage, the livestream (Cisco Webex, in German and English) offers a convenient opportunity to participate from home and to submit your questions to the speakers via the chat.
