Twelve donors are to help with 15,000 euros each to commemorate the founding of the Landgraviate of Hesse-Homburg 400 years ago with a basalt sculpture.

The Bad Homburg gallery owner Michael Blaszczyk presented this plan on Thursday in front of his gallery in the foyer of the Maritim Hotel, together with the chairman of the Association for History and Regional Studies, Gregor Maier.

District Administrator Ulrich Krebs and Lord Mayor Alexander Hetjes (both CDU) were also present and were convinced of the idea of ​​such a "citizen monument".

Florentine Fritzen

Correspondent in the Hochtaunus district

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The work of art made of volcanic rock already exists, it consists of three parts and is located in the studio of the sculptor Georg Hütter near Aschaffenburg.

Now it should find a place in Bad Homburg, if possible in the Landgravial Gardens and probably next year.

Monument at eye level

A photograph, roughly to scale, on the outside wall of the gallery shows a stout column on the right.

It symbolizes the echo of the power of the landgraves.

A narrow, lying pillar is reminiscent of a felled tree trunk, which, in the words of the gallery owner, also stands for the family tree of the "genus that has died out in the male line" Hessen-Homburg.

The third element opens up and can stand for survival thanks to the princesses.

The chairman of the association, Maier, spoke of a "contemporary Landgraviate monument" that does not inspire awe from a pedestal, but instead invites communication at eye level.

Blaszczyk added that on the occasion of the 400th anniversary this year, the answer to the question "What remains of all this commemoration?" became apparent: "Perhaps a sculpture." Guardians first created models, then the work of art that the cracked surface of the raw basalt and the black, reflective smoothness of the polished stone.

When the two came to him with the idea, he was delighted, says the mayor.

The civic monument will probably find a place in a "sculpture volume" recently decided by the city.

The series is intended to connect 18 locations, from the Gothic House to the transition from the garden landscape to the regional park route near the Hochtaunuskliniken.

Three “very serious requests”

If twelve sponsors are found, the monument could be erected next year.

There are already three "very serious inquiries," reported the gallery owner.

A 15,000 euro tranche has meanwhile been promised: District Administrator Krebs announced that he would support the project.

That's why he was allowed to choose one of twelve paintings by Guardian - a "thank you" from the gallery to the donors.

Blaszczyk is also giving away one element of a sculpture model among the first three, a second among the second three, and a third among the third three.

Interested parties can get an impression in the gallery until December 10th and then again from January 10th.

The artist, who was also present, reported that he had made the sculpture gradually over the past few years.

"It's backbreaking work," said the stone sculptor, who was born in 1948 and studied at the Städelschule in Frankfurt.

Warden also recalled that far beneath the feet of those present and the hallways of the hotel, there was likely crumbling basalt.

Such soil is fertile.

"The volcano is dangerous, but then it becomes more and more friendly."