Three faces for eternity

They were ceremoniously unveiled and yet disappear from public view again. In the Römer, three new portraits honor former city leaders Petra Roth, Volker Hauff, and Andreas von Schoeler. Their inclusion in the ancestral gallery, however, follows a tradition that requires more patience than an entire term of office.

Frankfurt is paying tribute to three personalities who have shaped the city for decades. On Wednesday, the official portraits of Petra Roth , Volker Hauff , and Andreas von Schoeler were unveiled in the Kaisersaal (Imperial Hall). They were created by the renowned Leipzig painter Johannes Heisig. However, the oil paintings follow an unwritten rule of Frankfurt's history: They are only displayed in the Römer's Wandelhalle (foyer) after the death of the sitters.

A pact with the future

The Mayors' Ancestral Gallery is a deeply rooted Frankfurt institution. Twelve predecessors already gaze from its walls. This posthumous tribute symbolizes continuity beyond individual terms in office. The tradition almost came to an end in the 1970s when its timeliness was questioned. Only a passionate plea for respect for the life's work of the city's leaders secured its continuation, as Mayor Mike Josef emphasized at the unveiling.

The Art of Character

Johannes Heisig, known for his compelling portrayals of figures such as Willy Brandt, was entrusted with the challenging task. The works now presented capture not only the physiognomy, but above all the character of the three former city leaders. The portrayed subjects themselves praised the collaboration and Heisig's ability to capture the essence of a person on canvas. Funded by the Cultural Office, the paintings will now initially be transferred to the Historical Museum. There they will be stored as testaments to an era – awaiting their final place in Frankfurt's history.