Why Corporate Art Collections Matter: From Beuys to Intesa Sanpaolo

In the late 1970s, Herbert Zapp, a Deutsche Bank executive board member, was influenced by artist Josef Beuys and his installation 'Das Kapital: 1970-1977' for the 1980 Venice Biennale. Beuys argued that art, as human creativity, is true capital. Zapp, alongside Hermann J. Abs, purchased 57 early Beuys drawings for the bank, initiating a corporate collection. Today, Intesa Sanpaolo showcases its collection at four Gallerie d’Italia museums, including one in Milan. The article argues that corporate art collections preserve cultural heritage and support artists, with Deutsche Bank's Global Head of Art and Culture Britta Färber noting Zapp's excitement despite his conventional business background.