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MUNICH ART MUSEUM TREASURES
Three Epochs of Art - Pinakotheks Alte Neue and Moderne

The famous triplet of art museums in Munich are some of the world’s best. Located in the Maxvorstadt area of Munich, a few blocks to the northwest from the old town center near Munich Technical University, the Alte Pinokotek, Neue Pinakotek and Pinakotek der Modern form the core of Munich’s museum district. The Alte Pinakothek (Old Pinakothek) is one of the oldest purpose built art museums in the world. Built in 1836 in the form of a palace, the Alte Pinkotek building itself is an artwork and was the most recognized museum of the 19th Century, and made the model for other museums across Europe. Before the Pinakothek art was found in grand palaces and chuches, Ludwig I of Bavaria thought it ought to be displayed in one place so the people could see the grandness of beauty. The collection which houses one of the world’s largest collection of works by Peter Paul Rubens, includes over 800 masterpieces of European paintings from the middle ages up to the end of the Rococo periodwith an emphasis on Dutch Masters and early German painters, with paintings by Van Dyck, Albrect Dürer´and Rembrandt. The scale of the display halls were originally designed by Leo von Klenz to display one of the world’s largest paintings, Rubens’ “Last Judgement”. Rubens was one of the masters of the Baroque period which characterizes much of Munich's religious counter reformation art (see Munich Baroque Churches). The collection originated in the late 1500’s and grew as the Wittelsbach dynasty of Germany collected the masters. Many of the Rubens pieces were commissioned by the German royals, other pieces were gathered after the reformation in which church collections became state property. Many paintings came to Munich from Dusseldorf and Mannheim in the 1700’s to protect them from the French invading from the west. The building was heavily damaged in WWII bombing, but the art had been moved and some of the original beauty of the building was lost, but it still retains its impressive sense of a temple devoted to art.

The Neue Pinokothek (New Pinkothek) was ordered built by Ludwig I to house his new art collections of European painters and sculptures. The Neue Pinakotek is located acrsss the street from the Alte. The museum building was reconstructed as a modern art museum after the original was destroyed in the war. The current building is post modern and opened in 1981. The collection represents art from the mid 1800’s to the early 20th Century. Here you’ll find works by the great portrait artists like Thomas Gainsborough and Francisco Goya as well as a good collection of the French impressionists, Monat and Manet, Degas, Pissaro and Aguste Renoir. Cezanne, Gaugin and van Gogh are also represented.

The Pinokothek der Moderne across the street to the east, is one of the world’s largest museums of 20th and 21st century art. The collection takes up multiple floors of a new building designed by Stephen Braunfels forms a showcase divided into four disciplines Art, Graphic Art, Architecture and Design. The art work covers Expressionism, Cubism and Surrealism with artists like Max Breckman and Ernst Kirchner. The graphics collection ranges from drawings of the early masters like Rembrandt to pure graphic collages of contemporary art. The Neue Pinokothek along with the modern art on display also has a very nice bar and restaurant on the ground floor to relax after a day of art contemplation.

The Pinokotheks are open most year around with a few holiday exceptions. The Alte and Moderne museums are closed on Mondays and the Neue Pinakothek is closed on Tuesdays, so you can always visit at least one. Admission ranges from about 5 Euro at the Alte and Neue to 9.50 at the Moderne. For a bargain, visit on a Sunday when admission for all the museums is reduced to only 1 Euro. The Pinokoteks are a short ride (north) on the street tram from Stachaus at Karlsplatz or from the main rail station to the Pinakotheken stop, or about 10-15 minutes on foot to Thersienstrasse, though a map will be necessary if you walk. Near the museums in Max Vorstat are some of Munich’s trendy restaurants, bars and coffee houses for a full day exploring (see Munich Walking). © Bargain Travel Europe

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