Hidden within Augsburg’s heart lies the Staatsgalerie Altdeutsche Meister. This isn’t just any museum. It’s a treasure trove of art a testament to Augsburg’s rich past. Nestled within the former Katharinenkirche this gallery holds a collection of unparalleled value. It’s the oldest branch of the Bavarian State Painting Collections. It houses the most precious collection of Old German paintings in Bavaria. These masterpieces mainly depict the Augsburg and Swabian schools. They showcase the late medieval and early Renaissance periods. This is the golden age of Augsburg painting.
The Staatsgalerie’s story begins not in a grand palace but in the quiet contemplation of a former church. Christian von Mannlich envisioned the gallery as early as 1806. However financial constraints delayed its opening for almost three decades. Secularization swelled state-owned art. The Mannheim Zweibrücken and Düsseldorf galleries merged. This greatly expanded the collection’s size. The paintings finally found their home in 1835. The Katharinenkirche was chosen as its permanent home by King Max I Joseph in 1807. Initially plans were to display the collection at the Ursulinenkloster.
Before the official opening the artworks resided in the Golden Hall of the town hall. They were displayed in the two adjoining princely rooms. From around 1810 parts of the collection were open to the public. Many more paintings were stored in depots in the town hall. By 1821 the collection boasted over 1000 paintings. The 1869 catalog listed over 700 paintings. They spanned the 15th to 18th centuries. The Staatsgalerie was considered a universal gallery. It represented nearly all German artistic circles. However limited space meant walls were densely packed with artwork.
Reorganization began towards the end of the 19th century. Director Franz von Reber oversaw these changes from 1875 to 1909. His successor Hugo von Tschudi removed many paintings in 1910. He reinforced the collection’s Swabian holdings. Augsburg saw this as an act of centralizing power leading to a heated debate in the Bavarian state parliament. Dissatisfaction with the gallery’s situation persisted.
After World War II cooperation between the state and local authorities improved. The Staatsgalerie’s display combined the city’s and state’s holdings. The gallery became renowned worldwide. It holds the most significant collection of Augsburg painting around 1500. All exhibits directly relate to Augsburg or its surroundings. About a dozen paintings originated from the Katharinenkloster. They remain connected to their original location.
The six depictions of Roman basilicas are the highlights. Hans Holbein the Elder and Hans Burgkmair created them for the monastery’s chapter hall. Reproductions replaced the originals there. The gallery closed between 1998 and 2000 for extensive renovation. Paintings and frames were conserved and restored in Munich. The Staatsgalerie reopened in April 2009 after renovations with the Schaezlerpalais. Step inside the Staatsgalerie Altdeutsche Meister. Discover the artistry and history that made Augsburg famous.