Maximilian Speck von Sternburg

Maximilian Speck von Sternburg
Born	30 July 1776 Gröba
Died	22 December 1856 Leipzig

Maximilian Speck von Sternburg (1776 – 1856) was a wool merchant and art collector from Germany.

Engraving by Loos of a Jacob van Ruisdael painting in his collection, page from the 1827 catalog

Speck-Sternburg was born in Gröba and became wealthy in the wool trade. On his visits to various places he enjoyed viewing the art galleries and became a connaisseur. He set up a public art gallery in his home at Lützschena that became a popular visitor attraction in the 1840s.^[1] He also became a major patron of the museum in nearby Leipzig.^[2]

Speck von Sternburg died in Leipzig.

References

1. A Hand-Book for Travellers on the Continent: being a guide through Holland, Belgium, Prussia, and Northern Germany, by John Murray, 1843
2. Verzeichnis der Kunstwerke im Museum der bildenden Künste zu Leipzig, 1903 catalog of Museum der bildenden Künste zu Leipzig

• Drawings from the Maximilian Speck von Sternburg Collection on the website of the Museum der bildenden Künste
• Speck, Maximilian Freiherr von Sternburg in the Deutsche-Biographie website