Bartle Kleber – An Artist’s Pilgrimage

The idea for an exhibition around the young painter Bartle Kleber in Jerusalem originates from a study trip by some Vorarlberg friends in 2015. A conversation with Rector MMag. Markus Stephan Bugnyar and Dr. med. Alois Lang at the Österreichisches Hospiz zur Heiligen Familie (Austrian Hospice of the Holy Family) in Jerusalem provided an opportunity to talk about the young painter Bartle Kleber from the Bregenzerwald, who in 1904 also went on a study trip to the Holy Land, that included an extended stay at the Austrian hospice. An examination, on site, of the hospice’s guest-books, on the same night, provided evidence of his visit. This conversation yielded the initial spark for the exhibition, which will now go on display in Jerusalem and at the Angelika Kauffmann Museum in Schwarzenberg. In addition to Dr. Lang, from 2017 onwards, Mag. Guntram Drexel, Martin Rhomberg, Dr. Rudolf Sagmeister as curator, and Klaus Lang for the Angelika Kauffmann Museum in Schwarzenberg also became involved in its development. Discussions within the working group, which was expanded to include graphic designer Stefan Gassner as well as the painter’s son Dir. i. R. OSR Peter Kleber, established the cornerstones of the exhibition concept.