Wilhelm Christian Benecke von Gröditzberg

Wilhelm Christian Benecke von Gröditzberg (12 December 1779 - 4 June 1860), né Wilhelm Christian Benecke, was a German banker, merchant, estate owner and art collector.

Wilhelm Christian Benecke was born in Frankfurt an der Oder, Germany.

In partnership with Norwegian industrialist, Benjamin Wegner, he bought Blaafarveværket at Åmot in Modum in Buskerud, Norway during 1822.

[1][2][3] One of the last significant paintings in his collection in private ownership - a signed and dated seascape by Willem van de Velde the Younger, which he had acquired from the Edward Solly collection - was restored "to death" in the restoration workshop of one of the most renowned European museums.

In a first-instance court case that lasted 15 years, interested circles succeeded in covering up the disaster with the help of the judiciary.