Studied law, art history and modern history at the universities of Freiburg im Breisgau, Paris Sorbonne IV and FU Berlin (MA); doctorate at the University of Vienna on the Rothschild painting collection in Vienna (Rothschild’sche Gemäldesammlungen in Wien, Böhlau 2006); since 2003 head of provenance research at the Dorotheum, Vienna; numerous talks in Austria and elsewhere, international publications on the art trade, provenance research, collection analysis and research.
The Wiener Versatz- und Fragamt (pawn and inquiry office) Annagasse 20 / Seilerstätte 30 in the present-day 1st district of Vienna was founded by Emperor Joseph I on 14 March 1707. Its main activity was to provide loans against security, with the proceeds going to the poorhouse fund.