Museum Purrmann-Haus

About the museum

The house on Kleine Greifengasse was built in 1829 as a residence and workshop and, after a fire in 1876, was largely rebuilt in its original form. The following year the master painter Georg Heinrich Purrmann acquired the property for his plastering and painting business. His son Hans was born here in 1880, grew up in his father's workshop and also completed his apprenticeship there.

Hans Purrmann studied under Franz von Stuck, belonged to the Berlin Secession and was one of the co-founders of the Académie Matisse in Paris. He enjoyed a lifelong friendship with Henri Matisse; later he lived in Italy and in Ticino, and he is regarded as one of the great German colorists of the 20th century. His wife Mathilde Vollmoeller-Purrmann was also a painter, trained in Berlin and with Matisse in Paris, and had considerable success there.

After the family sold the house in 1977, the city of Speyer acquired it in 1986. Together with the local art association, it set up a memorial site there, which opened in 1990. The municipal museum's permanent collection shows around 100 paintings, watercolors, prints and sculptures by both artists, supplemented by letters, photographs and personal belongings. Since 1999 the artistic estate of Mathilde Vollmoeller-Purrmann has also been researched here.

An extension opened in 2022 gave the house additional rooms for special exhibitions. As an archive and research center, the museum contributes to exhibitions and publications on the artist couple and offers guided tours, programs for schools and for people with dementia, as well as the concert series "Klangbilder".

Highlights

• Largest public collection of works by Hans Purrmann
• A dedicated room for the painter Mathilde Vollmoeller-Purrmann with paintings, documents and personal belongings
• The artist's birthplace and family home, with the former painter's workshop
• Archive and research center on the artist couple
• Concert series "Klangbilder" in cooperation with the Speyer music school

Permanent exhibitions

• Ständige Sammlung: Hans Purrmann und Mathilde Vollmoeller-Purrmann – Around 100 works and numerous testimonies tell the life of Matisse student Hans Purrmann, from his beginnings in Speyer to his late work in Ticino. A separate area is devoted to the painter Mathilde Vollmoeller-Purrmann.

Founded

1990

Operated by

Stadt Speyer

Director

Maria Leitmeyer

Admission & discounts

The prices apply during special exhibitions. Free admission also for holders of the Museums-PASS-Musées and the Kulturpass, as well as members of ICOM and the Deutscher Verband für Kunstgeschichte.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum is not accessible.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Children up to 12 years have free admission. Together with the Kulturhaus Pablo, the museum offers creative art sessions for children aged 8 to 12.

Getting there & parking

Information on getting there and on parking in Speyer is available from the tourist information office (visitspeyer.de).

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum catalogs and publications on the artist couple are available at the museum.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Plan your visit