Alte Pinakothek opens in Munich (1826–1836)

The Alte Pinakothek opened in Munich in 1836, following a construction period from 1826 to 1836. King Ludwig I commissioned Leo von Klenze to erect the building for the Wittelsbach collection. Galleries from Mannheim, Düsseldorf and Zweibrücken had been moved to Munich after the 1777 reunion of Bavaria and the Electorate of the Palatinate. The museum's modern design became exemplary for European galleries, influencing institutions in Saint Petersburg, Rome, Brussels, and Kassel.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. The Alte Pinakothek is an art museum in Munich's Kunstareal area, housing paintings from the fourteenth to eighteenth centuries. Its collection originated from galleries in Mannheim, Düsseldorf, and Zweibrücken, moved to Munich in 1777 to protect them during wars following the French revolution. The museum is part of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.

Construction. King Ludwig I ordered Leo von Klenze to erect a new building for the gallery in 1826. The construction period lasted from 1826 to 1836. The building was considered very modern for its time and became exemplary for museum buildings in Germany and Europe after its inauguration in 1836.

Legacy. The Alte Pinakothek became a model for new galleries, including the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, and galleries in Rome, Brussels, and Kassel. The museum's history is closely linked to the development of preventive conservation, with continuous changes made to the building since its construction.

People involved

Sources

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