Manfred Bischoff (b. 1947 Germany) is one of Europe's foremost contemporary goldsmiths. Born in Germany, Bischoff lived and worked in Munich and Berlin before relocating to Italy. Bischoff has a fascination with language, a sardonic wit, and an unerring eye for simple beauty. Bischoff's themes are universal: fear, love, mortality, and sexuality. His exquisite objects in gold, silver, coral, and occasionally jade and diamonds are encased in sense of isolation and psychological uncertainty. Though small, they are charged with intellectual complexity, and indeed with monumentality. His work can be found in collections including the Danner-Stiftung Collection, Munich, the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, and the Power House Museum, Sydney, NSW. Bischoff lives and works in Borgo Sansepolcro, Italy.

Manfred Bischoff spent the month of February 2002 reading, studying Gardner's collection, and contemplating ideas in preparation for his exhibition the following year. Bischoff particularly responded to Piero della Francesca's fresco of Hercules in the Early Italian Room and to the records about the painting's conservation treatment in 1999. For a long time Bischoff has counted Piero as one of his special muses and in Italy often visits his work at Arezzo Borgo San Sepolcro and Monterchi. Bischoff's exhibition included 21 pieces of jewelry mounted on boards decorated with drawings, paintings and collage that resonated with each work. Or-Son, a brooch in fine gold and coral captured the essence of Piero's Hercules while abstracting its qualities of beauty, movement, and grace. On the mounting board, Bischoff used the simple drawing taken from the conservation records and painted sweeping brush strokes in red and pink paint that emulated the imminent motion of the club. An artist's book was produced and printed by Schlebrügge. Editor of Vienna in conjunction with the exhibition. This features an essay by independent curator Cornelia Lauf; an interview between contemporary curator Pieranna Cavalchini and the artist; and photographs of Bischoff's works by renowned Italian photographer Aurelio Amendola.

Manfred Bischoff