Gentilhaus

The Gentilhaus, known locally as Gentil-Haus, is an enchanting museum located in the picturesque town of Aschaffenburg in Bavaria, Germany. This extraordinary building, steeped in history and brimming with artistic treasures, is a must-visit for anyone with a passion for art, architecture, and history. The Gentilhaus is not just a museum; it is a testament to the life and legacy of Anton Gentil, an industrialist and avid art collector whose vision and dedication have left an indelible mark on Aschaffenburg's cultural landscape.

The Story Behind Gentilhaus

The story of the Gentilhaus begins with Anton Gentil, who had a profound love for art from a young age. His collection had already grown significantly by the time he completed his spacious residence on Lindenallee 26 in Aschaffenburg. However, his passion for art was so immense that his home could not accommodate all his treasures. To solve this, he purchased a plot of land across the street on Grünewaldstraße 20 and, in 1923/24, constructed a house solely dedicated to his art collection. This house, now known as the Gentilhaus, became a sanctuary for his extensive and eclectic collection of artworks.

The Architectural Marvel

The Gentilhaus is an architectural gem, meticulously designed and crafted with an eye for detail. Anton Gentil himself was deeply involved in the creation of the house's interior, forging, woodworking, carving, and casting the entire interior decor. The house features 22 unique ceiling and wall lamps, designed by Gentil, which create mesmerizing and mysterious shadow plays in the rooms. His friend, the sculptor and painter Ludwig Eberle, also contributed his designs and works to the interior decoration of the Gentilhaus.

The building consists of a large stone hall, from which a staircase leads to the upper floors with galleries. The ground floor houses a kitchen, Gentil's living room with a sleeping alcove, and a chapel. The upper floors contain additional sleeping alcoves. The windows, some of which were painted by Gentil himself, allow only a small amount of light to enter the building, creating a rather dark interior that is further accentuated by the dark wooden ceilings. The walls and rooms of the Gentilhaus are adorned with paintings, sculptures, and other artworks, reflecting Gentil's diverse tastes and his penchant for blending different art styles and periods.

A Diverse Collection

Over approximately fifty years of collecting, Anton Gentil amassed nearly 2,000 objects, ranging from medieval altars and sculptures to East Asian statues, old German and Netherlandish paintings, and 19th and 20th-century artworks. Some highlights of his collection include:

Medieval Altars and Sculptures: The collection boasts significant pieces such as a 12th-century Crucifix from the Lorsch Abbey, a 13th-century French Madonna with Child, and a 15th-century Salzburg Madonna on a crescent moon. The collection also includes a late 15th-century Last Supper altar from Ering am Inn, and a Franconian winged altar from around 1520, attributed to the school of Veit Stoss.

East Asian Sculpture: Notable pieces include a Chinese Simhanada Avalokiteshvara from the Yuan or early Ming period and a 19th-century gilded standing Buddha from Thailand.

Old German and Netherlandish Paintings: The collection features works such as Hercules at Omphale from the workshop of Lucas Cranach the Elder and a 16th-century Dutch triptych depicting the Pieta, Saint Helena, and Saint Christopher.

19th and 20th Century Artworks: The collection includes works by artists such as Constantin Meunier, Hermann Hahn, Ludwig Eberle, and Otto Gentil. Highlights include Franz von Stuck's Medusa and Hugo von Habermann's The Burden.

Folk Art and Crafts: Gentil's collection also includes stoneware from the Rhineland and Westerwald, Persian faience from the 17th century, and German faience from the 18th century. He also collected painted bottles from the 18th century and made casts of famous works by renowned artists.

The Relics Room and the Organ

The Gentilhaus also features rooms with esoteric touches and a relic room displaying old wooden statues, Christian altar decorations, and Buddhist religious artifacts. The house is home to an integrated organ, the Welte-Mignon-Philharmonie-Orgel, installed in 1929. This organ, with its 520 pipes, is both a manual and automatic instrument, adding a musical dimension to the Gentilhaus experience.

Visitors to the Gentilhaus can explore this unique museum through guided tours, which offer a deeper insight into the life and collection of Anton Gentil. Some of the artworks from the Gentil collection are also displayed at the Stiftsmuseum in Aschaffenburg. The Gentilhaus is not just a museum but a journey through the eclectic and passionate world of Anton Gentil, making it an unmissable attraction for art lovers and history enthusiasts alike.