Museum
German Documentation Center for Art History - Marburg Picture Index
German Documentation Center for Art History - Marburg Picture Index is a museum.
About German Documentation Center for Art History - Marburg Picture Index
Overview
The Marburg Picture Index, known formally as the Bildarchiv Foto Marburg (Image Archive Photo Marburg), is the German Documentation Center for Art History (Deutsches Dokumentationszentrum für Kunstgeschichte). It operates the 'Bildindex der Kunst und Architektur' (Image Index of Art and Architecture), a major open online database containing approximately 3.2 million photographs representing 1.9 million artworks and architectural objects. In addition to its own holdings, the index provides access to around 2 million images from 90 partner institutions, covering art and architecture primarily in Germany but also extending to other European countries and beyond. The institution serves as a central hub for the scientific documentation of Western art and architecture.
History & Founding
The institution was founded in 1913 by Paul Clemen, who served as a professor of art history. Originally established in Berlin to document art and architecture, the archive was later relocated to Marburg. Over the decades, it has continuously expanded its holdings by acquiring archives and collections from prominent photographers. A significant expansion occurred in the 1970s, notably with the purchase of thousands of photographs from the Swiss magazine 'Du' in 1976. Between 1977 and 2008, the archive made 1.4 million photographs from 15 different institutions available on microfiche under the title 'Marburger Index: Inventar der Kunst in Deutschland' (Marburger Index: Inventory of Art in Germany), which now forms the basis for the digital image index.
Building & Location
The offices and collections of the Bildarchiv Foto Marburg are housed in the Kunstgebäude (Art Building) of the Philipps-Universität Marburg. This location serves as the central administrative and operational base for the documentation center. The building accommodates the modern conservation facilities required to store the archive's diverse media formats, ensuring the preservation of historical materials while supporting the digital infrastructure needed for the online database. The institution's presence within the university environment underscores its dual role as a research archive and an academic resource.
Collection Highlights & Notable Holdings
The archive's core collection comprises approximately 2.6 million original photographs dating from the 1870s to the present day. These holdings include glass plate negatives, plan films of various formats, 35mm negatives, slides, and digital image files. While the primary focus is on art and architecture in Germany, the collection also features significant holdings from classical art regions such as France, Italy, Spain, Greece, and Egypt. The archive has acquired special collections, including the 'Corpus der barocken Deckenmalerei' (Corpus of Baroque Ceiling Paintings) and documentation of endangered cultural heritage in Syria and Ukraine. The 'Marburger Index' microfiche collection remains a foundational part of the digital holdings.
Significance & Research
The Bildarchiv Foto Marburg plays a critical role in the over-regional documentation of European art and architecture. Beyond maintaining its own collections, it undertakes targeted photographic campaigns to document hard-to-reach or endangered cultural heritage, such as 18th-century private palaces in Venice or monuments across German federal states. The institution also engages in academic research, supported by a dedicated professorship, focusing on the history, practice, and theory of the transmission of visual cultural heritage. It operates as a partner in various research and cataloging projects, including the 'Corpus Vitrearum Medii Aevi' (CVMA) and the 'Digital Portrait Index', facilitating the publication and scientific exchange of results through exhibitions and conferences.