In the historical period of new beginnings starting in the 1950s, the collector Rudolf Leopold (1925?2010), with pioneer-like foresight and a keen sense of art, was able to do someting few others of his ilk succeeded in doing: build up a large, both aesthetically sophisticated and art historically relevant collection of international renown. The biography paints a picture of Rudolf Leopold as a fascinating collector. It is based on the personal memories of his son, Diethard Leopold, and the latters conversations with his father, relatives and contemporaries, as well as with competitors of his father. It is the permanent record of a lifelong effort to preserve what has defined a cultural period. Beginning with Schiele as core artist, his collection includes numerous major works by the likes of Klimt, Kokoschka, Gerstl, Egger-Lienz, and Kubin as well as by German Expressionists. Important furniture, arts and crafts, jewelry, and African and Japanese art complement the collection. / Die Biografie zeichnet von Rudolf Leopold das Bild einer spannenden Sammlerpersönlichkeit. Sie basiert auf den Erinnerungen seines Sohnes Diethard Leopold sowie auf dessen Gesprächen mit seinem Vater, Verwandten und Weggefährten, aber auch Konkurrenten seines Vaters. Es ist das bleibende Zeugnis einer lebenslangen Bemühung um das Bewahren dessen, was einer Kulturepoche zu ihrer Identität verholfen hat. Die Sammlung umfasst, ausgehend von Schiele als core artist, zahlreiche Hauptwerke u. a. von Klimt, Kokoschka, Gerstl, Egger-Lienz, Kubin, aber auch von deutschen Expressionisten. Bedeutendes Mobiliar, Kunstgewerbe, Schmuck sowie afrikanische und japanische Kunst runden die Sammlung ab.