Old Pinakothek. What is the Munich Old Pinakothek Munich Pinakothek

If you are an art connoisseur and don’t know how to spend your holiday or vacation, you should definitely go to Munich and visit the Alte Pinakothek. For a true connoisseur, this is a lifelong dream. The Pinakothek is considered one of the best art galleries in the world, on a par with. It contains works of many masters from Medieval culture to the mid-18th century. Next to the building of the Old Pinakothek you can find the New and Modern. In the first one you can see works of artists of the 19th-20th centuries, and in the second there are works of art from the 21st century.

History of creation

The Alte Pinakothek began its formation back in the old days. It was then that such a historical figure as Wilhelm IV began constructing a simple museum, which was supposed to contain works of completely different craftsmen. Being a well-rounded and a lover of painting, Wilhelm issued an order to collect all paintings by famous masters. He independently supervised this process and ordered paintings from such specialists of those times as Beham, Feselen, Breuy, Altdorfer and many others.

Altdorfer’s painting “The Battle of Alexander the Great with Darius” was the first to enter his collection. It was written in 1529. This is what marked the beginning of the rapid growth of the art gallery. Wilhelm also acquired works from Maximilian I, Maximilian II, and Dürer. All initial paintings were collected on military historical themes.

The successor of William IV was the Bavarian king Ludwig I. Having acquired various works, he preferred to keep them in his palaces, not allowing mere mortals to view them. Over time, this was actively systematized, and he began to introduce the common masses to art. On his instructions, in 1826 the architect Leo von Klenze began construction of the museum, which is now called the Alte Pinakothek. Construction took ten years, and already in 1836 residents were able to visit the exhibition halls. During World War II, the building suffered extensive damage and was completely reconstructed by the end of 1957.

Masterpieces of the Alte Pinakothek

All works of art are presented in 19 halls and 49 rooms. More than 700 true masterpieces of world art are freely available. It is world-class, since the Pinakothek in Munich has incorporated paintings not only by German artists, but also by masters from all over Europe. A special feature is the absence of sculptures and other fine arts other than painting. The Old Pinakothek was made according to all the rules of strict minimalism, so that nothing could distract attention from the spiritual enrichment of a simple tourist or a true connoisseur. Now let's take a closer look at some of the collection's exhibits.

Painting of Italy XIII-XVII centuries

These exhibitions feature paintings from the Baroque and Renaissance periods. Here are paintings by such masters:

• Fra Angelico;
• Titian;
• Leonardo da Vinci;
• Tiepolo;
• Sandro Botticelli;
• Jacopo Tintoretto;
• Rafael.

The Alte Pinakothek pays special attention to Leonard da Vinci's Madonna of the Carnation. It was written back in 1478. It was bought by some merchant for literally pennies, since it was of no value at that time. And only centuries later art critics recognized it as a real masterpiece. This is the only painting by the greatest artist that is located in Germany. The carnation in the hands of the Virgin Mary is the personification of immortality and resurrection.

And the Tempi Madonna, painted by Raphael in 1507, was the favorite painting of Ludwig I. He was able to purchase it only after long negotiations with the owners - the hereditary Florentine Tempi family. In the image of Madonna, the master tried to convey his vision of true feminine grace and beauty. At the same time, he portrayed her not as some kind of deity, but as a simple, ordinary girl with a baby.

German painting of the XIV-XVII centuries

It is logical that it is representatives of German culture who predominate in the Pinakothek. This hall is rightfully considered the real pride of the country. Particular attention is paid here to the era of the highest dawn of German art, which falls in the 15th and 16th centuries. The works of the following artists are presented:

• Albrecht Durer;
• Stefan Lochner;
• Michael Pacher;
• Albrecht Cranach the Elder;
• Matthias Grunewald;
• Adam Elsheimer;
• Johann Liss.

In 1529, Altdorfer captured the battle of Alexander the Great in 331 BC. The painting shows amazing landscapes with the rising sun. The armor of the warriors is depicted in detail.

Spanish painting

This country is worthily represented by the works of such masters:

• Velazquez - “Portrait of a Spaniard”;
• El Greco - “The Dispossession of Christ”;
• José de Riber;
• Francisco Zurbaran;
• Juan de la Cruz - "Isabella Clara Eugenia"

Painting of France

The Alte Pinakothek presents the French collection on a small scale, but its representatives are more than famous. It is represented by masterpieces of such artists:

• Claude Lorrain;
• Nicolas Poussin;
• Jean Honore Fragonard;
• Maurice Cantenat;
• Claude Vernet;
• Francois Boucher.

The most famous masterpiece of the latter of them is “Portrait of Madame de Pompadour”. It was written in 1758. It is known that Madame de Pompadour was the favorite of Count Louis XV. She is rightfully considered a trendsetter of the time. She had excellent taste and flair; her clothes always attracted attention and delighted all residents. Her difficult title is confirmed by the portrait itself, since it was made in full height, which was awarded only to monarchs and members of their families. The painting also shows paper and pen in her hands, which indicates her education. And the painting “Resting Girl” depicts fifteen-year-old Louise, the future passion of Louis XV. Some art critics claim that the girl succumbed to the influence of the seductive Casanova, who commissioned the portrait.

Flemish painting

This school covers the works of the following masters:

• Pieter Bruegel the Elder;
• Jan Brueghel the Elder;
• Peter Rubens;
• Anthony Dyck.

It is Rubens' collections that are the largest. Such a picture of his as “The Last Judgment” personifies the ideas of all mankind about the most important day, when the people will appear before the Lord and tell him about all their achievements and sins committed. And the further path of the soul - hell or heaven - will depend on his decision. A special feature of this canvas is its enormous size. So that the painting could appear before art lovers in the fullness of its colors, the hall of the Alte Pinakothek was redesigned to fit its dimensions.

The originality of the attitude towards death is conveyed in another painting by Rubens, “The Death of Seneca”. The hero of the work did not consider death to be some kind of evil and hopelessness. Just like life is not an absolute good for humanity. If the moral foundation is lost in it, it’s time to leave this world; existence no longer makes sense.

Representatives of Dutch painting are Dirk Bouts, Lucas van Leyden, Rembrandt, Pieter Lastman, Gerard Terborch.

The Alte Pinakothek Munich combines completely different directions and movements in art, which makes it easy to immerse yourself in its understanding. And, having mastered the Old Gallery, a connoisseur of high things will be able to immediately enjoy the development and perception of more modern masterpieces.

In the vicinity of the Bavarian capital, Munich, tourists will find a scattering of ancient “burgs”-fortresses and fairy-tale castles. Many of them eventually turned into museums. For those who are thirsty not only for Munich beer, but also want to get in touch with old German history and art, we have compiled a detailed cultural program - museums in Munich with opening hours, addresses, ticket prices and other useful information.

Good weather occurs in Bavaria from April to September. Later, in September and early October, the weather is also wonderful, but the energy and attention of Munich residents will be drawn to Oktoberfest. In winter, visiting museums is usually postponed by tourists “for later”, because a ski holiday, fresh air and a delicious dinner in the evening simply knock them off their feet, and fatigue simply leaves no energy left to explore the museums of Munich.

The Natural History Museum in Munich, located on Museum Island and also known as the German Museum (Deutsches Museum), is the largest museum of natural history and technology in the world. Its name is also sometimes translated as “Museum of Science and Technology” or “Polytechnic Museum”, but the essence remains the same. This place is guaranteed to please not only children, but even those adults who have always disliked physics and other natural sciences. It's not that interesting to read about, but to see it in person is a completely different matter.

The museum contains a huge number of exhibits from a variety of fields from geology to astronautics. Coal mines, airplanes and submarines, old equipment for glass and brick production, many interactive displays and experiments - it is unlikely that such diversity will leave anyone indifferent.

The museum has its own children's kingdom - KinderReich - with more than a thousand activities to develop children's interest in science and technology.

A detailed map of the museum can be found here.

All information in the museum is presented only in German and English, however, many tourists who do not know any of these languages ​​note that this does not make visiting the museum any less entertaining, and many things are intuitive.

Ticket price is 11€ for adults and 4€ for children.

How to get there: Buses 132, 52 and 62 and trams 16 and 18 stop near the museum.

Address: Museumsinsel 1, 80538 Munich

Opening hours: daily from 9 to 17, tickets on sale until 16, KinderReich closes at 16:45. For museum weekends see:

Pinakothek

Visiting the old and new Pinakothek is a matter of honor for every tourist. The best canvases from all over the world flocked here to Bavaria. Alas, not all of them were donated; some of them were simply expropriated during the Second World War.

Disappointing information is posted on the website of the old Pinakothek: from 2014 to 2018, partial renovation work was carried out here. But the inspection of paintings by old masters can be done under the commentary of an audio guide or accompanied by a guide.

The Old Pinakothek (Alte Pinakotek) displays works by artists from the Middle Ages to the end of the Rococo era. The new Pinakothek (Neue Pinakotek) houses more modern works by Francisco Goya, Pablo Picasso and other 19th-century artists. And in the Pinakotel of Modernity (Pinakotek Der Moderne) you can see works by masters of the 20th and 21st centuries.

The cost of visiting the old Pinakothek is 2 € (while renovation work is underway), the new one is 7 €, entry to the Pinakothek of Modernity is 10 €, entry to any of them on Sunday is 1 €, entry for children under 18 years of age is free on any day.

How to get there: all three buildings are located nearby, literally 100 meters from each other. You can get here by tram 27 or 28 or bus 100 or 150 (stop Pinakotheken), and there are metro stations Theresienstraße (red line) and Odeonsplatz (green, brown, red and blue lines) nearby.

Address: Old Pinakothek – Barer Str. 27, new - Barer Str. 29, Pinakothek of Modernity - Barer Str. 40

Opening hours:

Alte Pinakothek: Tuesday from 10 to 20, Wednesday – Sunday from 10 to 18

New Pinakothek: Wednesday from 10 to 20, Thursday – Monday from 10 to 18

Pinakothek of Modernity: Tuesday-Wednesday and Friday-Sunday from 10 to 18, Thursday from 10 to 20

BMW Museum

Upon arrival, you can install the BMW Museum App mobile application, which will tell you more about the history of the brand and show an interactive map to make it easier to navigate the museum. All information is in the application, incl. audio guide, translated into Russian.

Entrance to BMW World - BMW Welt - is free, but a ticket to the museum itself with access to all exhibitions (including the Rolls Royce exhibition) costs 10 € for adults and 7 € for children 6-18 years old. A family ticket for 2 adults and 3 children costs 24€.

How to get there: opposite there is a bus stop 173 and N76 and two metro stations Olympiazentrum and Petuelring (orange and red lines), near the Petuelring station there is a tram stop of the same name (tram 27)

Address: Am Olympiapark 2, 80809 Munich

Opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday from 10 to 18, see the official page for more details

Bavarian National Museum

The luxurious, imposing building of the Bavarian National Museum - Bayerisches Nationalmuseum - is designed for a long, leisurely inspection. The entire history of art is presented here, from Gothic, to Renaissance and Baroque, from Art Nouveau to contemporary art.

The museum was founded back in 1855 by King Maximilian II, and today it is the main museum in Bavaria and one of the most famous museums of history, culture and art in Europe.

This local history museum contains exhibits from all areas: jewelry, ancient dresses, dishes, ancient musical instruments and even weapons.

Admission for adults over 19 years old is 7€, on Sundays – 1€. For anyone under 19 years of age, admission is free on any day.

How to get there: 600 m away there is the Lehel metro station (green line), a little further - the Odeonsplatz interchange station (orange, blue, brown and green lines), several bus stops (routes 100, 150, 153) and a tram stop (route 18).

Address: Prinzregentenstraße 3, 80538 Munich

Opening hours: Tuesday-Wednesday and Friday-Sunday from 10 to 17, Thursday from 10 to 20, Monday – closed. The schedule for holidays throughout the year can be viewed.

Toy Museum

Old toys from all over the world have found their second life at the Toy Museum in Munich, located in the tower of the Old Town Hall in the historical center of the city. There are Barbies and Teddy bears from different decades, doll furniture, cars and trains, German handmade toys, and the oldest exhibits are over 100 years old.

The museum itself is very modest - there are only 4 rooms, one on each floor of the head, but small children will find it very interesting.

Ticket price is 4€ for adults and 1€ for children, family ticket is 8€.

How to get there: Marienplatz metro station nearby (orange and blue lines)

Address: Marienplatz 15, 80331 Munich

Opening hours: daily from 10 to 17.30

Nymphenburg Castle Museum

There is nothing more charming and elegant than the Nymphenburg Palace either in Russia or in France, although it reminds of the Hermitage, Petrodvorets, and Versailles.

In addition to the English park and the beauties of the late Baroque, in one complex you can see an exhibition of real carriages in which the Bavarian kings rode. Priceless examples of porcelain are also displayed here: hand-painted figurines, dishes with genre scenes. You shouldn’t come to the museum before 10 am; you can see the most interesting things in 3-4 hours, and then have lunch right there in the restaurant.

Entrance to Nymphenburg Castle itself costs 6 €, entrance to the carriage museum and porcelain museum costs 4.5 €. With map Munich City Card There may be discounts, but only for group visits.

How to get there: just like getting to the Museum of Man and Nature by tram or bus, the stops are the same

Address: Schloß Nymphenburg 1, 80638 Munich

Working hours: from April to October 15 daily from 9 to 18, from October 16 to March from 10 to 16

Museum of Man and Nature

This museum in Nymphenburg Palace can be called a museum of nature, since out of all its sections and exhibitions only two sections are dedicated to man: “Brain and Nerves”, also “Genetics”. All other exhibitions highlight the history of the planet and illustrate the emergence of life. Panoramas with lizards recreate very life-like scenes from the Jurassic period. The Museum of Man and Nature (Museum mensch und natur) is especially loved by children.

Ticket price for an adult is 3.50 €, for children under 18 years old - free.

How to get there: tram 12, 17, N16 or bus 51, 151 and N78 to Dall’Armistraße or Schloss Nymphenburg stop

Address: Schloss Nymphenburg, 80638 Munich

Opening hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday - from 9 to 17, Thursday from 9 to 20, weekends and holidays from 10 to 18. On Monday the museum is closed, and on all other days it is better to come by ten o'clock.

Aviation Museum

The Munich Aviation Museum - Flugwerft Schleissheim - is located just north of Munich next to the Schleissheim palace and park complex. This is a relatively young museum - exhibitions began to be held here in 1992, and the airfield itself was built from 1912 to 1918. All the exhibits here are real examples of civil and military aviation in Germany.

A ticket for an adult costs only 6€, a family ticket costs 12€, and free entry for children under 5 years old.

How to get there: by train S1 Freising/Airport to Oberschleissheim station, from there you can take bus 292 (operates every day) or 295 (operates on weekdays) to the Oberschleissheim Mittenh stop. Next - 5 minutes walk through the Schleissheim palace complex.

Address: Effnerstrasse 18, 85764 Oberschleißheim

Opening hours: daily from 9 to 17 (days when the museum is closed are indicated)

Crystal Museum

The Bavarian Crystal Museum (Mineralogische Staatssammlung München) will take you to a completely different reality - to the world of marvelous stone flowers that grew in the bowels of the earth under the influence of ultra-high temperatures and pressure. Interactive moving models and information screens tell you exactly how this happens.

Part of the museum is dedicated to modern sciences: crystallography, crystal growing, crystal optics, etc.

You can order individual accompaniment around the museum and find out about its daily routine.

How to get there: located next to the Pinakothek, you can get there by bus 100 or 150 and tram 27 and 28

Address: Theresienstrasse 41, 80333 Munich

Working hours: Tuesday – Sunday from 13 to 17, in winter and during thematic exhibitions on Sunday from 10 to 17

Complete information about all museums in Munich can be obtained by following this link.

Publication date: 2013-09-16

Old Pinakothek(German: Alte Pinakothek) is one of the best art galleries in the world. Here, in 19 halls and 49 cabinets, about 700 works of painting from the 14th to 18th centuries are presented, among which are masterpieces by da Vinci, Raphael, Dürrer, Bosch, Altdorfer, Titian, Botticelli, El Greco, Goya and many other famous artists. The gallery's storerooms contain about 9,000 more paintings by 1,400 artists. The gallery was opened in 1836.

The history of the collection of paintings, which is presented in the Alte Pinakothek, dates back to 1529, when William IV ordered eight paintings on historical themes for his Residence. The first of them was “The Battle of Alexander,” depicting the legendary battle between Alexander the Great and Darius. Subsequently, other members of the Wittelsbach dynasty continued collecting art. A major addition to the art collection occurred during the Thirty Years' War, when paintings were brought from Mannheim, Düsseldorf and Zweibrücken to preserve them from the advancing French invaders. The expansion of the collection entailed the construction of a special hall in Schleissheim Palace.

In the 19th century, the collection continued to grow thanks to the efforts of King Ludwig I, known for his passionate love of all types of art. The unique work of systematizing the paintings, done by him personally, made it possible to lay the foundation for the creation of a future landmark and its world fame.

After some time, Ludwig I came to the idea that his private collection of masterpieces should become public knowledge and turn Munich into one of the world's centers of painting. To house the collection, it was decided to build a new gallery building, the design of which was entrusted to the talented German architect Leo von Klenze.

Large-scale construction began on April 7, 1826. The date was not chosen by chance. April 7th is the birthday of Raphael Santi, whom Ludwig I idolized. Today, in the halls of the Alte Pinakothek you can see only two works by the famous Italian: “Madonna Tempi” and “Madonna Canigiani”. The construction of the building took a record short period of time at that time. By 1836 the main exhibitions had been opened.

Wanting to instill in his compatriots an idea of ​​beauty, Ludwig I issued a decree that every Sunday there would be an “open day” in the gallery. However, the townspeople did not appreciate the unique opportunity that allowed them to freely get acquainted with the world's masterpieces. Most of them liked another opportunity - to spend noisy picnics on the huge lawn in front of the museum entrance.

Name“Pinakothek” was borrowed from the ancient Greeks, who used this term to designate a room where objects with picturesque images or paintings were kept. 17 years later, when the second Pinakothek appeared in Munich, “old” and “new” were added to the names to distinguish them. In addition, quite recently, in 2002, the Pinakothek of Modernity opened.

Externally, the building of the Alte Pinakothek is distinguished by gloomy and gray features, and the internal halls surprise with asceticism and a complete lack of decoration. Nothing distracts visitors from the masterpieces of art. The transition from one topic to another occurs smoothly and without switching attention.

Selected paintings from the Alte Pinakothek

"Madonna of the Carnation", Leonardo da Vinci, 1478

The painting was purchased from an unknown dealer, and at that time it was believed that it was not of particular value. Many later the creation was identified as a work by the young Leonardo da Vinci. Today this is the only work of the great artist preserved in Germany. Thanks to such a successful acquisition made in the past, modern connoisseurs of da Vinci's work can admire the grace of the Virgin Mary, who is depicted holding a carnation flower (a symbol of resurrection and immortality).

“Portrait of Madame de Pompadour”, Francois Boucher, 1758

The official favorite of Louis XV, Madame de Pompadour, was known for her extraordinary beauty and impeccable taste. The marquise’s stunning outfits immediately became role models. Perhaps this is why her reputation as a trendsetter of court fashion was firmly established. The format of the painting also testifies to her influential position at the royal court. The fact is that the full-length portrait was made exclusively for representatives of royal families. Evidence of Madame de Pompadour's political influence can be seen in the notebooks and pen shown on the right. The engravings she made and the sheet music thrown at her feet remind us of her musical and artistic passions.

"Resting Girl", Francois Boucher, 1752

The painting depicts another famous court lady - fifteen-year-old Louise O'Murphy (future favorite of King Louis XV of France). According to information posted on Wikipedia, the minor Francois became an uncomplaining victim of Casanova, who ordered her portrait.

"Susanna and the Elders", van Dyck, 1622

For many centuries, the image of Susanna has inspired artists of various schools to create unique masterpieces. Legend has it that Susanna was a model of chastity and moral purity. However, when the young woman was taking a bath, two elders, tempted, wanted to take advantage of her beauty. Having received a refusal, they threatened to accuse him of adultery, for which in those days there was a threat of inevitable death. However, the prophet Daniel intervened in the situation and told what really happened. Susanna's honorable name was restored.

For the painting, van Dyck chooses the half-naked Susanna coming out of the bath. At this moment, one of the old men tries to tear off her clothes, and the second touches her body. The dramatic effect of the painting is enhanced by the background shot depicting thunderclouds.

Van Dyck's self-portrait, 1619

The painting depicts a self-confident, impressive and well-mannered young man, at the age of 20 - this is how his contemporaries described the future master of court portraiture and religious subjects. The son of a textile merchant, van Dyck, thanks to his ability to always look elegant, looked more like a nobleman than an ordinary representative of a wealthy merchant family.

"Madonna Tempi", Raphael, 1507

This work by Raphael was the favorite painting of Ludwig I. It was purchased in 1829 from the Florentine Tempi family, whose representatives agreed to part with the masterpiece only after long and persistent negotiations.

As a rule, in the image of Madonna the artist tried to convey his idea of ​​female beauty and grace. Young Mary, tenderly clutching the baby, appears full of charm, but not spiritual, not holy, but ordinary human. The artist masterfully conveyed the feelings of the mother, the joy of life and sincerity of the young woman. The baby, presented in a complex spread, carries a slight sadness; its seriousness slightly disturbs the idyllic calm of the composition.

"The Battle of Alexander", Altdorfer, 1529

The battle of Gaugamela (331 BC) between the Greek army of Alexander the Great and the Persian army of Darius III is captured. The artist depicted the fighters in modern armor. The Greeks can be recognized by their blue and white clothes, the Persians by their red vestments.

A special feature of the picture is the landscape with the setting sun and the rising moon, which watch the progress of the battle that pushed the boundaries of the civilized world. In the central part of the picture we see the chariot of Darius, pursued by Alexander. In the background is the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea with the island of Cyprus, behind it the Red Sea, to the right is Egypt with the Nile Delta, which can be recognized by its seven branches.

"Tax Collector with His Wife", van Reimerswaele, 1539

The Flemish painter is known for his portraits of bankers, tax collectors, money lenders and money changers. Depicted in elaborate clothing, they were the personification of greed. Their portraits with overwhelming emotions were quite popular in the 16th and 17th centuries.

"Land of Lazy People", Pieter Bruegel, 1567

The painting conveys a highly satirical attitude towards excess, so common among the debauched upper class of the time. The plot was based on a fairly popular legend in European folklore about a fabulous land of eternal happiness, gluttony and idleness. In it, milk rivers flow along the jelly banks, fried birds and animals run across the lawns, people live in gingerbread houses, and instead of ordinary stones, delicious cheese is scattered everywhere.

The main virtue for the inhabitants of this country is pleasure, and the sin is perseverance and diligence in work. Whoever has an old and unattractive wife can exchange her for a beauty and get money in addition. To get to such a magical country, you need to eat your way through a mountain of porridge. Bruegel depicted three lucky people: a priest, a knight and a peasant, who, having eaten too much, lounged idly around the table. There is still a large amount of a hearty meal left on the table, a roasted pig is wandering nearby, and the roof of the hut is covered with pies. In addition, wherever you look there are countless free-roaming delicacies.

Masterpieces by Rubens in the Alte Pinakothek

"The Last Judgment", Rubens, 1617

The bright painting by Peter Paul Rubens “The Last Judgment” reflects humanity’s idea of ​​an important event when people will appear before God, and everyone will talk about their lives, sins, and achievements. The further fate of the soul depends on the path of life: hell or heaven. The picture will captivate you with ease and inspiration. Peter Paul Rubens reflected his inner state in the picture, you can feel the soul of the author. God is represented as a good judge; he is reflected in the faces who come to judgment with grace, joy, and bliss.

A special feature of the masterpiece is its size. The hall of the Alte Pinakothek was specially designed so that you can admire one of the largest paintings in the history of mankind, the dimensions of which are 610 by 460 centimeters.

"The Death of Seneca", Rubens, 1613

The picture surprises with its combination of the spirit of death and the charm of the plot. Seneca's incredibly beautiful death and dignified exit certainly attract attention.

Seneca had a unique attitude towards death. He did not consider it evil, since it was provided for by nature. Life, in his understanding, was not a true good and was of value only if it had a moral basis. Committing suicide is possible only when the moral basis disappears.

The birth of the picture was the story in which the insane Emperor Nero considered Seneca a traitor and ordered him to commit suicide as punishment. The philosopher made the decision with dignity. Naked, Seneca tried to cheer up his friends and his wife, who, of her own free will, decided to accept death with him.

There is no horror or tears in the looks of those present; they are thinking about something sublime. Even at the moment when he cut his wrists, Seneca was still inspired, so he called scribes to write down his thoughts. Notice with what enthusiasm one of the scribes looks at Seneca, ready to catch every word until Seneca’s last breath.

In the glorious city of Munich there are three wonderful museums that bear one common name: Pinakothek. In two days I managed to explore half of the old and new Pinakothek. I didn’t have time to master the Art Nouveau Pinakothek due to lack of time.

Pinakothek(French pinacotheque, from Greek πιναχουηκη, πιναξ - board, picture and υηκη - storage) - the ancient Greeks had a room for storing picturesque images. This was the name of the left wing of the propylaeum of the Athenian Acropolis, where there was a collection of paintings donated to the goddess Athena. Several six-column halls housed paintings painted on boards, clay tables and other painted works. This meeting was open to Athenian citizens. Even at the turn of the 3rd-2nd centuries. BC e. The first catalog of this Pinakothek was compiled, the author of which was Polemon of Ilium. In addition to the Athenian one, similar pinakotheks existed in other places in Greece, for example, in Heraion - the temple of Hera on the island of Samos.

The ancient Romans used this term to refer to a room that contained works of art.

Beginning with the Renaissance, the name Pinakothek began to be used to designate collections of paintings open to the public. Nowadays, pinakotheks are called art galleries.

The Old Pinakothek (German: Alte Pinakothek) is an art gallery in Munich. It is one of the most famous galleries in the world. It presents works by masters of the Middle Ages until the mid-18th century.

This is almost my usual warning for those who value traffic: a lot of photos and information. You will see a lot of works by great and famous, as well as little-known masters from the old Pinakothek. I deliberately removed frames from the photographs. There were a couple of reasons for this. The first is crooked handles and the second is that many pictures had to be shot at a mysterious angle, because... otherwise they had an eerie glow. At first I tried to somehow catalog everything for posts, but my website, where I post photos, decided everything for me. He sorted the photos for me in alphabetical order by artist name. That's what we'll do. Yes, and Wikipedia helped me a lot. There is a lot of information from it, although I’ll be honest: the lion’s share of the texts had to be translated from German, because... For some reason, the Russian segment of Wiki has little interest in artists and sculptors. If I took the photo from Wikipedia, then there is an indication under it. All other photographs were taken by me.

King Ludwig I of Bavaria acquired numerous works of art. All these works were located in different palaces and were not available to the public. Ludwig I not only systematized his collecting activities, but also, considering it his duty to introduce the masses to art, commissioned the architect Leo von Klenze to build a museum. The museum was founded in 1826, and already in 1836 construction was completed. Although admission to the museum was free on Sundays, many Munich residents initially preferred to have a picnic on the lawn at the entrance to visiting the museum. During World War II, the Alte Pinakothek was badly damaged and was restored in 1952-1957.

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The Old Pinakothek houses about 700 paintings. Entrance to the museum costs 13 euros and you can wander around all day. You can take photographs, but without flash. Strict lines of the halls, dark colors of the walls so that the paintings are better visible. You can wander there all day. I figured out to put on high-heeled boots and after four hours of examination I could only hobble around as if on stilts. Citizens girls! My big advice to you: when visiting art galleries, wear low-soled shoes.

From hall to hall, from hall to hall - in this museum you will not find sculptures, graphics, or objects of applied art or antique furniture. It is ascetic, strict, quiet, here there are only canvases, here nothing distracts from the most important thing - from contemplation. Nothing scatters attention or distracts; there is no need to switch perception from one type of art to another.

I was tired and sat down on the banquette. I tried to read LiveJournal from my mobile phone. Immediately a strict aunt appeared, informing me that it was forbidden to call or send SMS here. In response to my objections that I don’t call or send anything, it was noted that it’s a shame, with so many brilliant works, to be scattered into the satrap spillikins of our time. I was ashamed and didn’t spend any more time on the spillikins.

The biggest problem in the old Pinakothek is the very poor lighting for photography and the size of the paintings, hung from nose level to the ceiling. Still, in the 15th-18th centuries, people had obvious gigantomania. Although, if it weren’t for her, we wouldn’t see magnificent works today, which need to be viewed exclusively from a distance of 5-10 meters. The hard work and amazing sense of harmony of the artists is amazing.

1. Adriaen Brouwer(1605/06, probably born in Odenarde, Belgium - buried 1 February 1638 in Antwerp) - Flemish artist.

From Wikipedia

Very little is known about the artist’s childhood and youth. Born into a family of artisans. His father was engaged in painting cardboard for carpets. Audenard carpets were valued throughout Europe. Since childhood, the future artist helped his father in the workshop, drawing fancy patterns for future carpets. It is assumed that in 1621 he left Belgium, and in 1631-1632 the artist moved to Antwerp.

Brouwer studied painting with the artist Frans Hals and in 1630 he was accepted into the Antwerp guild of artists of St. Luke. Despite his Flemish origin, Brouwer was greatly influenced by Dutch painting and was far from the opulent Baroque Flemish school. Despite this, Brouwer’s paintings were greatly appreciated by Rubens, who purchased several paintings from him for his art collection and tried to provide his patronage to the “incorrigible reveler.” In 1633, Brouwer was arrested by the Spanish authorities. The exact reason for his arrest is not known, but he may have been arrested for his participation in the Ghent uprising of 1631. From 1634 until his death from the plague in January 1638, Brouwer lived with the Antwerp engraver Paulus Pontius.

Brouwer painted genre scenes from peasant life, peasant dances, card players, smokers, hawk moths and fights, which are distinguished by their liveliness and genius of design. However, during the artist's lifetime, his paintings were not in value, so he was in need, so his household property was recovered for the benefit of his creditors. What is most surprising is that Brouwer never put creation dates on his paintings. Most of Brauwer's paintings are kept in the Munich Pinakothek, St. Petersburg, Madrid, Dresden and Vienna.

Brouwer died at the age of 32 in Antwerp and was buried in a mass grave. Later, with the assistance of members of the guild, he was reburied on February 1, 1638 on the territory of the Carmelite Church.

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Peasants in a tavern playing cards

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Drinking and smoking peasants

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Drinking establishment

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Village Quartet

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Fight between five peasants

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Two fighting

2. Albrecht Altdorfer- German artist, master of paintings and engravings on historical and religious subjects. Altdorfer's most famous work was the grandiose painting "The Battle of Alexander". The head and most outstanding representative of the Danube school of painting.

Albrecht Altdorfer was born around 1480 in Regensburg, where his father, Ulrich Altdorfer, had received burgher status a few years earlier. In 1491, Ulrich, experiencing financial difficulties, renounces Regensburg citizenship and leaves the city. In 1505, Albrecht returned and restored his citizenship in his hometown. In 1506, Altdorfer first began to put his signature on engravings, created in imitation of the famous monogram of Albrecht Dürer. Altdorfer died on February 14, 1538. The first paintings by the artist known to researchers are dated 1507.

(From Wikipedia)

"Battle of Alexander"- also known as the Battle of Issus.

The painting was created in 1528-1529. commissioned by Duke William IV of Bavaria as one of eight paintings originally conceived by the Duke depicting the battles of antiquity. In 1800, the Munich collection was plundered by French soldiers and more than 70 paintings were taken to France. “The Battle of Alexander” was to the taste of Napoleon and was located in the bathroom of the Saint-Cloud Palace, where it was discovered by Prussian troops in 1814.

The canvas depicts the battle between the Macedonian army of Alexander the Great and the Persian army of King Darius. The artist depicted those fighting in modern armor of his era. The Greeks and Persians met in the foreground. Greeks can be recognized by their blue and white armor. The Persians fight in red robes, some of them wearing turbans.

A special feature of the painting is the landscape with the setting sun and the rising moon. In the central part of the picture we see the chariot of Darius, pursued by Alexander. On the left side of the picture there is a mountain with a castle. In the background is the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea with the island of Cyprus, behind it the Red Sea, to the right Altdorfer depicted Egypt with the Nile Delta, which can be recognized by its seven branches.

A sign with a Latin inscription floats freely in the air. In the Russian translation: "Alexander the Great defeated the last Darius, after 100,000 Persian foot soldiers and more than 10,000 horsemen were killed and the mother, wife and children of King Darius were captured, while Darius escaped with 1000 horsemen."

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Deciduous forest with St. Geogr

3. Giovanni Antonio Canal (also known as Canaletto - Canaletto)- Italian artist, head of the Venetian school of Veduists, master of city landscapes in the Baroque style. In addition to Antonio Canal, the nickname Canaletto was also borne by his nephew, Bernardo Belotto, also a famous landscape painter.

(From Wikipedia)

Antonio Canal was born on October 7, 1697 in Venice. He studied painting with his father Bernardo Canal, a theater artist. In 1719 he visited Rome, where he became acquainted with the work of the famous vedutist Giovanni Paolo Pannini. After this he began to paint his famous views of Venice. Unlike most artists of that time, Canaletto, at an early stage of his work, painted his views (vedutas) directly from life, without making preliminary sketches or sketches. Subsequently, he began to write in the studio, using camera obscura* (see footnote)

Many of Canaletto's works were successfully sold to the English who came to Venice to study. In 1740, this source of income disappeared: the War of the Austrian Succession began, and the British began to come to the continent less often. In 1746, Canaletto travels to London to be closer to the distribution channels for his paintings. For nine years he lived in England, painting views of local palaces and houses. During this period, something secondary appears in his work, and customers no longer like the technique. In 1755 the artist returned to Venice. In 1763 he was elected to the Venice Academy of Arts. Canaletto died on April 19, 1768 in his native Venice.

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Santa Maria della Salute und die Riva degli Schiavoni in Venedig

4. Bartolome Esteban Murillo (Spanish: Bartolomé Esteban Murillo)- famous Spanish painter, head of the Seville school.

(From Wikipedia)

Born in Seville at the end of December 1617. He studied with Juan de Castillo and initially worked in his dry, harsh style until the arrival in the named city of P. de Moya, who transferred van Dyck’s style there, convinced him of its unsatisfactoryness. The desire to get rid of it and generally improve led him to Madrid, where his fellow countryman, Velazquez, gave him the opportunity to study and copy the works of Titian, Rubens van Dyck and Ribera in the royal palaces and himself, with his free, masterful technique, had a strong influence on his development. In 1645 Murillo returned to Seville a completely different artist and soon earned fame among his fellow citizens with 11 paintings based on scenes from the actions of the famous Franciscans, executed for the local monastery of their order. Already in these works, despite the heaviness and harshness of their tones, the coloristic inclination and national, especially Seville character of Murillo, who takes models for his figures from the people, are clearly demonstrated.

Murillo also painted strongly realistic genres of Seville common life, known as “Street Children” - boys and girls busy eating, playing dice, counting small coins, selling fruit, etc.

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Children eating pate

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Unpleasant procedure

5. I don’t know what the author of this post was smoking when he processed the photographs, but he wrote the name of the artist who created this canvas in the first half of the 17th century completely incorrectly. Therefore there is nothing to tell. But I really like the picture, so let it be.

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6. Francesco Guardi(October 5, 1712, Venice - January 1, 1793, ibid.) - Italian artist, representative of the Venetian school of Veduists.

Portrait of Francesco Guardi by Pietro Longhi (From Wikipedia)

Quite little is known about this artist, at least I found little in the atlas from the Pinakothek. For a long time he worked in the workshop of his brother Giovanni Antonio Canal (see number 3) and was noticed by few people. He began to work independently for the first time in 1750, and for a long time the influence of his brother was visible in his work. Like the Canal, Guardi is attracted to Venetian and fantastic motifs. Considered one of the last representatives of the classical Venetian school of painting.

"" on Portrait of François Boucher by Gustav Lundberg (From Wikipedia)

Boucher was awarded many honors, including the title of court painter (1765). Boucher's admirer was the favorite of Louis XV, the Marquise de Pompadour, whom he captured in several portraits. Boucher's best works are characterized by extraordinary charm and perfect execution.

François Boucher was born in Paris on September 29, 1703. His father, Nicolas Boucher, was an artist. He made his living by drawing engravings and embroidery patterns. From an early age, Francois helped his father in the workshop.

The father, having discovered his son's talent, assigned him as a student to Francois Lemoine. Boucher spent several months with Lemoine and later recalled him without much gratitude.

At the age of seventeen, Boucher entered the workshop of the engraver Jean-François Cars, which allowed him to earn his own living, as well as make useful contacts with high-ranking clients of his mentor.

In 1723, François Boucher won the competition for the Rome Prize of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture. This victory gave him the right to study in Rome, but there was no vacant place for the winner in the Italian branch of the academy. The young artist managed to go on a trip to Italy only in 1727.

Returning from Italy, Boucher almost immediately became a candidate for the Royal Academy in the department of historical painting, and already in 1734 he was approved as a full member of the academy.

In 1733, he married the seventeen-year-old charmer Marie-Jeanne Buzot, with whom many of Boucher’s “nymphs” were painted. A little later, he began teaching at the academy, first as an assistant, and then as a master. But despite this, Boucher was limited in funds at that time. In 1761 he became its rector, in 1765 - director. Boucher owes his career not only to his talent, but also to the patronage of the Marquise de Pompadour, the all-powerful favorite of Louis XV.

Rays of light passing through a hole with a diameter of approximately 0.5–5 mm create an inverted image on the screen. Some cameras were made based on the camera obscura.

The first camera obscura were darkened rooms (or large boxes) with a hole in one of the walls. Mentions of the camera obscura date back to the 4th century BC. e. - followers of the Chinese philosopher Mo Di - the Mohists - described the appearance of an inverted image on the wall of a darkened room. Mentions of the camera obscura are also found in Aristotle. Apparently, Leonardo da Vinci was the first to use a camera obscura for sketching from life. He also described it in detail in his Treatise on Painting.

(From Wikipedia)

That's it, the first part of the walk is over. I have a question: does anyone need this, is it interesting? Should I continue? Otherwise, you know how much time it takes for such a post, and I don’t have much of it. Suddenly no one is interested in this, and here I am blabbering. I'm serious, I'm not being flirty!

Old Pinakothek - Alte Pinakothek. One of the most famous art galleries in the world, founded in 1836. It contains paintings created from the beginning of the Middle Ages to the middle of the 18th century. Here it is one of the largest collections of works by Albrecht Dürer. Here - The largest collection of paintings by Peter Paul Rubens in the world! In addition, the museum presents creativity Altdorfer and Cranach, Jan Brueghel the Elder and Van Dyck, Raphael and Titian, Poussin and Murillo. The cost of the entire museum collection, according to art historians, is impossible to determine. About 700 paintings in 19 halls and 49 rooms of the museum on two floors as part of the permanent exhibition. Temporary exhibitions are also organized. Nearby is New Pinakothek with works of artists of the 19th - early 20th centuries and Pinakothek Modernity, where the art of the 20th and 21st centuries is presented.

In general, the halls of the Alte Pinakothek are extremely ascetic. The lighting is quite weak. Before visiting, you should check in umbrellas, canes, large bags and backpacks in the cloakroom. No containers containing liquids are allowed into the museum. When visiting the museum, it is prohibited to carry backpacks or other objects on your back. The use of mobile phones, eating, drinking and smoking is prohibited in the museum halls and lobby. Amateur photography without flash and tripod is permitted. There is no audio guide in Russian.

You can have a snack in the Pinakothek itself - there is a Cafe Klenze on the ground floor. There is a gift shop on the ground floor. There are also toilets. All this is open during museum opening hours and is accessible without a ticket.

The Alte Pinakothek is open every day except Monday from 10.00 to 17.00, and on Tuesday from 10.00 to 20.00. The museum is also usually closed on December 24, 25 and 31, Shrove Tuesday and May 1.

Attention! During construction work between 2014 and 2018, certain rooms and offices may be temporarily unavailable. As repairs are completed in one place and started in another, they close and open to visitors. Please pay attention to announcements and information signs or visit the website: www.pinakothek.de/en/renovation-alte-pinakothek.

But the entrance fee for the permanent exhibition has been reduced. In 2016, admission costs 4 Euros, and on Sunday 1 Euro. There is a separate fee for visiting special exhibitions. The entrance to the museum is from Theresienstrasse. You can travel by tram (27), bus (154) or metro (2, 8) to the stop. Konigsplatz.