Containing over one million engravings and images, the Liszt Collection is an international project to preserve a portrayal of history through contemporary engravings, articles and books. It houses an abundance of information in images and text about the nineteenth century, covering mainly Europe and the United States as well as Canada, Australia, Africa, South America and Asia.

The Collection focuses mainly on history, society, art and culture with images of geographical locations and various aspects of life in the nineteenth century. Topics range from politics, fashion in nineteenth century France and social activities in the nineteenth century German village to science, hiking in Switzerland, transport and coaches and trains crossing the country side.

In the mid-1800’s wood engraving was used extensively and engravings could be made within days of any particular event. Few painters could make a living selling their canvases and many turned to engraving to earn a living. Included in the Liszt Collection’s engravings are Artists ranging from J.B. Allan, W.H. Bartlett and Thomas Bewick to R. Zogbaum.

The roots of the Liszt Collection lay in the Austria Hungary Empire where a Ms Gizella Schwarz (1877-1962), started to collect portraits of Franz Liszt - the famous 19th century composer - and woodcuts of the places where he lived and worked. Living in the famous Schwarz Coffee House she met many interesting people on their travels from Hungary to Austria. Her interest broadened and she bought prints and engravings of Budapest and Hungary, as well London, Paris and New York. Over the past hundred years the Liszt collection has been expanded and now houses over one million nineteen-century engravings, prints and images and over two million articles. The Liszt Collection offers an exceptional contribution to our world heritage.

Further information can be obtained from lisztcollection@lisztcollection.com.

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