Rudolf Stolz Museum

The painter Rudolf Stolz was born in 1874 in Bolzano where a primary school was named after him. Stolz experienced art first hand during his childhood thanks to his older brothers with whom he shared his passion for art and his awe for the paintings of Franz Deferegger. Together with his brother he managed the heritage of the painter Albin Egger-Lienz whose works are now displayed in the Regional Museum Lienz at Castel Bruck.

Unlike many other artists, Rudolf Stolz was honoured for his masterpieces when he was still alive. One of his most important and appreciated works is the "Totentanz" at the cemetery of Sesto. In this painting Death takes on seven different guises and dances with different people who are under his power.

The museum is composed of two exhibition rooms which were opened 9 years after Stolz's death in 1960. The plans for this project were created by architect Erich Patti, the artist's son-in-law. The exhibition shows hundreds of sketches, pictures, paintings and watercolour paintings. In occasion of the 50th death anniversary of the painter in 2010, the museum reframed some of his paintings and inaugurated the special exhibition "Die Malerbrüder Stolz". One year later the permanent exposition "Rudolf und Albert Stolz als Kriegsmaler 1915/16" was added.

The museum reopens in late June 2026.