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 churches, 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
period with 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
Judgment”. 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 Pinokothek is located across 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.
Visiting Munich's Pinokotheks
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 7 Euro at the Neue to 10 at the Moderne.
The Alte Museum is undergoing some environmental renovation until 2018 with a reduced admission of 4 Euro. For a real bargain, visit on a Sunday when admission for all the museums is
reduced to only 1 Euro! The Pinokotheks 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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Munich Pinokothek
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See Also:<
THE
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MUSEUMS OF THE ZWINGER - ART, PORCELAIN & ARMOR
