NEWS RELEASE

Captain Frederick Pabst Mansion, 2000 West Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53233
(414) 931-0808 www.pabstmansion.com
July 8, 2005
Contact: John Eastberg
(414) 931-0808

Famous Pabst Paintings to Return to Milwaukee

Eleven paintings that were once part of the collection of Captain Frederick Pabst and the Pabst Brewing Company have recently been purchased by the Captain Frederick Pabst Mansion and are currently being sent back to Milwaukee from Sotheby's in New York. That this collection of paintings had survived, intact, is an amazing feat in itself. The paintings have not seen the light of day for years and their whereabouts were unknown. These canvases were painted by celebrated artists of the nineteenth century: Ernst Berger, Louis Braun, Giuseppe Magni, Louis

Rach, Karl von Eckenbrecher, Wilhelm Koller, and others.
The paintings have had a varied history: some were original to the Pabst Mansion; a few of the paintings were part of the collection that was removed from the Milwaukee Athletic Club in 1985; and others were used in the general offices of the Pabst Brewing Company in Milwaukee. All of the works had ended up in a storage facility until they were to be disposed of at auction this year.

Knowing that the paintings were to be sold, Pabst Mansion Historian, John C. Eastberg wanted to save at least three paintings out of the collection: a mural from Captain Pabst's office; Columbus in Chains, which was one of Captain Pabst's earliest works collected; and Abschied von der Heimat, an original painting from the Pabst Mansion's collection. Eastberg contacted William F. Fox, of Fox, O'Neill & Shannon, inquiring if he knew of a benefactor who would be interested in helping the Pabst Mansion acquire the paintings. John Eastberg knew that if the paintings were not purchased now, they would be lost to history. Fox introduced Eastberg to John and Murph Burke and their friends Jerry and Jeanne Cohen who arranged for the funding of the worthwhile project. The Burke's and the Cohen's were so enthused with the possibility of saving the collection for Milwaukee that they traveled to New York City for the sale with Dawn Day Hourigan, Pabst Mansion Executive Director, and John Eastberg.
As lifelong Milwaukee residents and longtime members of the Milwaukee Athletic Club, the Burkes and Cohens recognized the great benefits of returning to the City many more than the three works coveted by Eastberg for the Pabst Mansion alone. They were able to facilitate the acquisition of a total of eleven paintings originally purchased by Captain Pabst over 100 years ago. "How fitting it is that they were returned to the museum dedicated to the life of this great Milwaukee citizen!" Eastberg exclaimed after the sale. The paintings are scheduled to return to Milwaukee in late July.

Once the paintings arrive in Milwaukee, a number of the works will be conserved and restored. An arrangement has been made with the Milwaukee Athletic Club to loan several of these works to the organization. One of these, Dedication of the Fountain by Ernst Berger hung on the first landing of the MAC grand staircase for over 65 years before it was seized by the new owners of the Pabst Brewing Co. in 1985.

"Most people have forgotten that Captain Pabst was one of Milwaukee's great art collectors and it's a great relief to know that this important collection has been saved for all time. A great debt is owed to the Burke's and the Cohen's for stepping up and saving an important piece of Milwaukee's history" Eastberg noted.

The Pabst Mansion is open Monday-Saturday 10:00am-4:00pm and Sunday noon-4:00pm (Closed Monday mid-January through February). The Pabst Mansion's admissions are Adults $8, Seniors/Students $7, Children 6-17 $4, Children under 6 are admitted free. If you have additional questions please contact John Eastberg at (414) 931-0808. Photos are available upon request.