The Gottfried Keller Foundation (Gottfried Keller-Stiftung) was established in 1890 by Lydia Welti-Escher (1858-1891), the daughter and heir of the politician, business leader and railway entrepreneur Alfred Escher.
She bequeathed a large portion of her estate to the Confederation, with instructions that its revenues be used to acquire important works of visual art for Swiss museums. The Foundation’s name honours the Swiss poet and painter Gottfried Keller (1819-1890), a friend of the Escher family.
Since 1890, the Foundation has acquired more than 6,400 works from the 12th to the 20th century. The objects purchased remain the property of the Confederation and are deposited with Swiss museums on permanent loan.
City: BernWebsite: https://www.gottfried-keller-stiftung.ch/