Virgin and Child Enthroned with Angels Making Music, ca. 1430

About the Acquisition

The donor of this picture is thought to have been the Frankfurt businessman Ludwig Adolf von Löwenstein (1845–1911). Löwenstein was a partner in the firm of Gebrüder Löwenstein, which from 1861 onwards had a shop in Kaiserstrasse selling jewellery, pearls and antiques. Besides his business activities, Löwenstein was imperial consul-general of Persia. Sometime between 1891 and 1896 he was ennobled, receiving the title of baron. From then on the Frankfurt directory no longer listed him as a businessman – such a designation would not have been fitting for a baron.