| born | 1964 |
| | Study of Art History, Modern History and Modern German Literature at Universitiy of Bonn, Vienna, Utrecht and Bochum |
| 1992 | Ph. D.: Ruhr University Bochum („Rembrandts mythologische Historien“, Cologne 1996) |
| 1992 - 1994 | Research fellow, Institute of Art History, Ruhr University Bochum |
| 1994 - 2000 | Assistant Professor, Institute of Art History, Friedrich Schiller-University Jena |
| 2000 | Habilitation: Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena („Paragone um 1900. Maler-Bildhauer und die Geschichte der modernen Skulptur“ |
| 2000 | Fellow at the Sterling & Francine Clark Art Institute, Williamstown (MA) |
| 2000 - 2002 | Substituting professor for the Chair for Art History, University of Augsburg |
| 2002 | Senior assistant, Institute of Art History, Friedrich Schiller-University Jena |
| 2002 - 2004 | University lecturer, Institute of Art History, University of Cologne |
| since 04.11.2004 | Professor for Art History, University of Cologne |
| 2013 - 2017 | Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Cologne |