The Renner-Lanjus Collection
The Renner-Lanjus Collection has its origins in the art collection of Baron Robert Bach and Baroness Lenore Bach, a couple at the heart of the rich cultural life in fin-de-siècle Vienna.
Robert Bonaventura Michael Wenzel Freiherr von Bach (1864-1927) worked in the Ministry of the Austrian Imperial Court and after inheriting his uncle’s estate, he was free to pursue his passion for art and music. He played the violin and had a talent for painting portraits and self portraits. He also produced woodblock prints, some of which were published in Die Fläche, a periodical for graphic arts associated with the Wiener Werkstätte.
Eleonore Josefa Maria Auguste Theresia Freiin von Bach (1869-1939) was a celebrated soprano and often performed in the gilded Great Hall of the Vienna Musikverein, of which she was an honorary member. She too was a skilled painter and exhibited in the Vienna Secession in 1913 and 1914, alongside the likes of Egon Schiele.
In their homes Castle Leesdorf, Castle Braiten and Castle Mauerbach they hosted Sunday salons which included lavish dinners and musical performances. The guests included many of the defining characters from the golden age of Imperial Vienna: the composers Alma and Gustav Mahler and Johannes Brahms as well as the artists Gustav Klimt, Elena Luksch-Makowsky, Richard Luksch and Oskar Kokoschka. The Bachs were interested in the international art scene and also extended invitations to artists who were visiting Vienna such as the Finnish painter Axeli Gallen-Kallela and the Swiss painter Ferdinand Hodler. During Hodler’s visit, he painted Lenore and one of the Bach daughters, Katharina, affectionally called Käthe, but upon seeing her portrait, Lenore famously tore it apart in dissatisfaction.
Robert and Lenore had four daughters who embraced the creative lifestyle of their parents. The eldest, Therese Lanjus von Wellenbach née Bach (1891–1987), was a prolific poet. Katharina Hammer-Purgstall née Bach (1892–1954) had composed in her youth, however, it was Maria Bach (1896-1978) who became a famed composer after studying at the Wiener Musikakademie. In addition to composing, Maria played the violin and the piano. She had practiced drawing and painting since childhood and later in life she began creating collages, which were exhibited in Italy, Austria, Germany and the United States. The youngest sister, Henriette Bach (1903-1980), was a professional solo cellist renowned in Austria and Germany who often played with Maria.
The Renner-Lanjus Collection is named after Kurt Renner and Ilse Lanjus, the adopted daughter of Therese. Following their marriage in 1960, Ilse and Kurt Renner-Lanjus significantly expanded the collection to include contemporary art and antiques. Today, the collection is owned and managed by their grandson, Josef, who aspires to continue the creative legacy of the generations before him and bring new life to the collection.
