Exhibition: EXLIBRIS

Inauguration: 8th February 2013, 19.00 hours; City Museum Bruneck/Brunico

Exhibition period: 9th February - 10th March 2013

Opening hours: Tue - Fri: 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. / Sat - Sun: 10 a.m. – 12 a.m.

In earlier times, it was customary for the proud owner of a book to identify his or her copy with an ex-libris. The term "ex-libris" is Latin and means "from the books." These bookmarks or even book owners’ marks were usually small graphics that were drawn by hand, pasted, or frequently even stamped into the book. Some of these bookmarks contain a proverb, some others are illustrated with a coat of arms, some others depict a symbol related to a profession; some other drawings reveal something about the owner of the book. These bookmarks used to be concealed inside the book; only in the second half of the 19th century some people started collecting these artistic items.

The collection in the City Museum Bruneck/Brunico is certainly unique as it comprises about 12,000 specimen; 3,500 of these bookmarks stem from one local family, named Hinterhuber, and numerous bookmarks were given to this museum by various artists and collectors from all over the world. The selection covers various topics: landscapes, religious and literary themes, but also illustrations with a sexual connotation.

On this occasion also the prize-winning works of the competition “III BIENNALE INTERNAZIONALE EX LIBRIS PALLADIO 2012" will be shown.