The painter Rudolf Stolz was born in 1874 in Bolzano, where still today a primary school is named after him. Like his brothers, Rudolf Stolz was a follower of the genre painter Franz Defregger. Together with his brother, he also managed the heritage of the historical painter Albin Egger-Lienz, whose artworks are exhibited in the Regional Museum Lienz at Bruck Castle today.

Rudolf Stolz was honoured for his work already during his lifetime. One of his most famous and important works is the "Totentanz" at the cemetery entrance in Sesto. Death is shown here seven times, dancing with various people, all within his power.

Nine years after the death of Rudolf Stolz in 1960, the museum at the main square of Sesto with two show rooms was opened. The planning was done by his son-in-law Erich Patti. The exhibition consists of hundreds of sketches, pictures and watercolours. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his death in 2010, several paintings were newly framed and the special exhibition "Die Malerbrüder Stolz" (The painter brothers Stolz) was opened. One year later, the permanent exhibition "Rudolf und Albert Stolz als Kriegsmaler 1915/1916" (Rudolf and Albert Stolz as war painters 1915/1916) completed the museum.