Fritz Wotruba's Monumental Stage Design Model for Wagner's 'Rheingold' at Belvedere

This object is a five-part stage model designed by Fritz Wotruba for the 1967 production of Richard Wagner's 'Das Rheingold' at the Deutsche Oper, Berlin. It depicts "Free Scenery on Mountain Heights," specifically for the 2nd and 4th scenes of the opera.

This is a detailed stage model created by Fritz Wotruba, representing a segment of his design for Richard Wagner's monumental opera cycle, 'Der Ring des Nibelungen'. Specifically, this five-part model pertains to the Bühnenbauten (stage constructions) for 'Das Rheingold', focusing on scenes 2 and 4, titled 'Freie Gegend auf Bergeshöhen' (Free Scenery on Mountain Heights). The model was conceived for the 1967 production at the Deutsche Oper in Berlin. The medium used for this piece is a plaster cast from a clay model, with styrofoam contributing to its structure, measuring 24.5 x 58 x 59.5 cm. The object is part of the Belvedere's collection, acquired through the estate of Fritz Wotruba and later transferred from the Fritz Wotruba Private Foundation.