War of words over Zurich museum director ends with surprise choice

Christoph Becker (picture) is the surprise choice for the post of director of the Zurich Fine Arts museum, one of the biggest in Switzerland. Becker was formerly the curator of 19th century paintings and sculpture at the State Gallery of Stuttgart.

The German, Christoph Becker, is the surprise choice for the post of director of the Zurich Fine Arts museum, one of the biggest in Switzerland. Becker was formerly the curator of 19th century paintings and sculpture at the State Gallery of Stuttgart.

The race for the appointment of a new director in Zurich prompted a war of words over the choice of candidates. Until now, favourites included the Swiss, Christoph Vitali, who runs the Haus der Kunst in Munich, and Christoph Heinrich from the Arts Museum of Hamburg. Heinrich had condemned the race to fill the post as a “mudfight”.

The final surprise choice, Becker, made his mark on the international art exhibition world in 1998 with a display of works by Paul Gauguin in Stuttgart.

The Zurich Fine Arts Museum, built in 1910, is one of the most famous galleries in the city, and exhibits old masters as well as modern art. It has an extensive collection of works by the Swiss artist, Alberto Giacometti.

From staff and wire reports