Froh(n)berg Collection: Art Havens

Wolfgang Maritsch talking to Rudolf Polanszky, photo: private

Martha Jungwirth, Hubert Schmalix, Inge Dick, Erwin Wurm – a distinguished Austrian private collection full of prominent names is coming up for auction as part of Dorotheum’s Contemporary Week.

he Froh(n)berg Collection comprises more than 350 carefully selected artworks from the 20th and 21st centuries, all of them amassed by the collector couple Tine Salis and Wolfgang Maritsch in the course of their life together. Tine Salis’ first marriage was to art dealer Thomas Salis, with whom she laid the foundation for the collection in the 1980s.

Tine Salis was chairperson of the Circle of Friends and Patrons of the Museum der Moderne Salzburg for many years, while Wolfgang Maritsch was instrumental in facilitating the transfer of the Länderbank photo collection to Museum Rupertinum in Salzburg. Their deep interest in photography accounts for the emphasis of the collection, particularly on the Düsseldorf School, with works by Bernd and Hilla Becher, along with Axel Hütte.

 A significant part of their lives was spent in two places very dear to the collectors: their atmospheric Salzburg residence on Frohnburgweg and their picturesque mountain retreat near Kitzbühel, where works by the Austrian artist and architect Alfons Walde were of course essential. The name of the collection is a amalgamation of the names of these two beloved abodes, where most of their art was displayed. The collecting couple had a profound connection to both places, which not only served as a source of inspiration but also offered a peaceful haven upon their return from extensive journeys, including month-long trips to India and various parts of Asia. When they were not abroad, they enjoyed the company of their artist and literary friends in Salzburg and Kitzbühel, including H. C. and Rosa Artmann, Rudolf Polanszky, Peter Simonischek, Franz Josef Altenburg, and many others.

Tine Salis and Wolfgang Maritsch did not only collect art, they seamlessly integrated it into their lives. To them, art was more than just an aesthetic pleasure; it provided a means to expand the boundaries of the known, to delve into diverse cultures and explore different ways of thinking. Their passion ignited a profound drive and dedication to the meticulous collection of works of art.

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