Born 1955 in Hamburg. Study of musicology, theatre history, art history and philosophy Munich Univ. (1974-1979), grant of the "German National Academic Foundation", Rome (1976-1977), study of art history and musicology TU Berlin (1982), M.A. (1982), doctorate (1985), head of exhibition department at the "Schirn Kunsthalle" in Frankfurt (1986-1990), Director of the State Museum of the Land Hessen in Darmstadt (1991-1997), Director General of the State Art Collections of Saxony in Dresden (1998-2001), teaching at Bonn Univ., Honorary Professor at Dresden Univ., Director and Scientific Member at the Bibliotheca Hertziana - Max Planck Institute for Art History (since 2001).