Before us stands the majestic Palais Pinakothek. It is not just a building but a portal. It leads to centuries of European art history. The Alte Pinakothek is home to an outstanding collection. It stretches from the 14th to the 18th century.
Munich owes this treasure trove to King Ludwig I. He was a true art connoisseur. He wanted to share his royal collection with the public. In the 1820s he commissioned court architect Leo Von Klenze to build this museum. When it opened in 1836, the Pinakothek was the largest museum in the world.
Inside, 700 pieces represent high points in art history. Albrecht Dürer’s “Self-Portrait at Twenty-Eight Years Old Wearing a Coat with Fur Collar” is here. It dates from 1500. The Alte Pinakothek also owns Leonardo da Vinci’s “Madonna of the Carnation”. Painted around 1473, it makes this museum the only German one to have a Leonardo.
You can find works by Raphael, Titian and El Greco here. See paintings by Rubens and Rembrandt too. Don’t miss Albert Altdorfer’s “The Battle of Alexander at Issus”. It is one of the first paintings from the Wittelsbach family’s original collection. Duke Wilhelm IV started the Wittelsbach collection. He ordered painters to create history paintings. “The Battle of Alexander at Issus” was one of them.
The Alte Pinakothek suffered heavy damage during World War II. Architect Hans Döllgast renovated it. He replaced the missing façade with unrendered brick work. These “wounds” from the war are still visible. They remind us of the past.
Look for the selection of 19th-century art from the Neue Pinakothek. It is on the ground floor in the East Wing. These masterpieces add another layer to the experience.
The Wittelsbach rulers favored certain painters. This made the collection strong in some areas. The Pinakothek has filled some gaps since the 1960s. Works loaned from Bavarian banks added 18th-century paintings.
The Alte Pinakothek’s collection includes German, Dutch and Flemish paintings. It also features Italian and Spanish art. Each room offers a new discovery. Note the woven silk wall coverings in green and red. King Ludwig I and Leo von Klenze used these colors. They continue a tradition from the 16th century.
The museum is under the supervision of the Bavarian State Painting Collections. They own thousands of European paintings. Over 800 paintings are on display here. Other works are in galleries throughout Bavaria.
The artworks from Alte Pinakothek can be experienced digitally. The online collection contains 25,000 works of art. Visitors can view all paintings, sculptures and drawings. They are sorted by category and epoch. The museum provides barrier-free access. Lifts are available too. Light chairs and wheelchairs are available on request.
Take your time to explore each gallery in the Palais Pinakothek. Let the stories of these masterpieces come alive. The Alte Pinakothek is more than just a museum. It is a journey through the heart of European art.