Special exhibition presents highlights of Dresden's Old Masters Picture Gallery
The First Art Newspaper on the Net    Established in 1996 Saturday, December 7, 2024


Special exhibition presents highlights of Dresden's Old Masters Picture Gallery
Bernardo Bellotto, Dresden vom rechten Elbufer unterhalb der Augustusbrücke, 1748
Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister © SKD.



DRESDEN.- The international reputation of the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister (Old Masters Picture Gallery) of the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden is based on such masterpieces as Raphael’s “Sistine Madonna”, Giorgione’s “Sleeping Venus”, Vermeer’s “The Procuress” or Bellotto’s views of Dresden. Although most of the Semper building is currently closed for renovation and refurbishing, the Dresden Gemäldegalerie is nevertheless providing access to these and other major works. The special exhibition entitled “Highlights of the Old Masters Picture Gallery” which is on show from 2 August until 3 November 2019 provides a condensed overview of the collection, covering the various schools and periods represented among the approximately 3,800 works held by the Gallery. The show features works by the most important painters from the early Renaissance to the Enlightenment period, such as Lucas Cranach the Elder, Albrecht Dürer, Andrea Mantegna, Titian, Peter Paul Rubens, Rembrandt van Rijn and Nicolas Poussin. The selected paintings reflect the tastes of the Electors of Saxony as well as presenting a synopsis of the history of the collection and the Gallery.

The origins of the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister are to be found in the Kunstkammer of Elector August I of Saxony (1526–1586). From 1560 onwards, he collected curiosities ranging from natural objects to works of art, craftsmanship and scientific instrument-making. The Electors of the 17th century had already acquired important paintings. However, Friedrich August I (1670–1733), Elector of Saxony, who was also King August II of Poland, intensified this collecting activity to an unprecedented extent. As well as Roman antiquities, East Asian porcelain and masterpieces of treasury art, he also purchased precious paintings, which he obtained via agents from Italy and the Netherlands. For example, the painting “Sleeping Venus”, produced by Giorgione and completed by Titian, was one of 15 works purchased for the Electoral Kunstkammer in 1699 via the Amsterdam art dealer Charles Le Roy.

In 1718 August II had a room in the Johanneum on the Jüdenhof fitted out specifically as a picture gallery. Owing to the changed needs and demands of the 19th century, the architect Gottfried Semper (1803–1879) was commissioned in 1838 to design a new museum building. The gallery building next to the Zwinger, which was constructed in accordance with Semper’s plans, was opened in 1855 as what was then an ultramodern museum building. The architecture and the art treasures combined to form a single entity, which was unusual in those days. This effect was achieved thanks to the targeted collecting activity of August the Strong and his son August III, as well as to Semper’s sensitive feel for museum presentation. Gottfried Semper’s state-of-the-art museum building therefore had a major influence on subsequent museum architecture throughout Europe.

Since 2013 the Semper building at the Zwinger has been thoroughly renovated in an ongoing series of building phases. Structural factors and age-related wear and tear made it necessary to completely rehabilitate the building. The premise for the project was that Semper’s original concept behind the museum building should be retained. The basic historical structure was to be maintained, while such features as the visitor management scheme, emergency escape routes and barrier-free access, as well as the air-conditioning, heating and ventilation systems, were to be optimised. Despite the intensive reconstruction work, the SKD have ensured that access to the Gallery’s masterpieces has been maintained at all times through the partial reopening of the east wing, which was renovated and refurbished in the first construction phase up to 2015.

It was originally intended that the interim exhibition of “Highlights” should open on 12 July 2019. However, owing to the unforeseen limited resources of the specialist companies involved, the performance of some of the necessary work has been slightly delayed.

In the final phase of the construction work the Semper building must again be closed completely from 4 November until 6 December 2019, before the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister and the Skulpturensammlung up to 1800 will open in the freshly restored building on 7 December 2019.










Today's News

August 5, 2019

Egypt displays restoration of Tutankhamun gilded coffin

London's Tate Modern evacuated after child falls, teen arrested

Exhibition presents key paintings and works on paper created between 1950 and 1969 by Helen Frankenthaler

Special exhibition presents highlights of Dresden's Old Masters Picture Gallery

10 Years of MKdW: Masterpieces from the Romantic period to Modernism

The Louvre opens an exhibition of drawings by Antoine-Jean Gros

Phillips announces 'Andy Warhol's Lenin' works from the archive of Galerie Klüser

Japan halts exhibit of Sout Korea's 'comfort women' statue

L.A. Louver announces the passing of artist Don Suggs at 74 years of age

Marciano Art Foundation opens Anna Uddenberg's first institutional show in the U.S.

'Painted by ghosts': Chinese bottle art revived by Peppa Pig

Swann Galleries to offer newly surfaced volumes from Herman Melville's personal library

Exhibition at the Rencontres d'Arles celebrates the 50th anniversary of Motown

10th International Printmaking Exhibition of Cremona announces exhibitions

The Foundation for the Promotion of Contemporary Art in Weidingen exhibits new works by Zhang Wei

Emma Lavigne appointed president of Palais de Tokyo

Museum of Fine Arts, St Petersburg announces new trustees

The Ravestijn Gallery exhibits Mathieu Asselin's 'Monsanto®: A Photographic Investigation'

Exhibition brings together the work of over 25 contemporary artists who use innovative imaging strategies

Exhibition examines the ways in which artists use assemblage as a means to deconstruct a fixed identity

The Jewish Museum launches new audio tours featuring a range of perspectives, available on all devices

Turner Auctions + Appraisals to offer the Julianna Southall Glumac collection of art & decorative arts

Schilt Publishing to release Dear Mr. Picasso: An illustrated love affair with freedom by Fred Baldwin

Rosemary Laing honoured at 35th Higashikawa International Photography Festival

How to advertise and promote your business on facebook? Simple guide to get real results

3 Unconventional Ways to Invest Your Money

What Were Some of the Biggest Art Sales Last Year?

Most Recognized Sports in the Globe

Attorneys for Police Brutality

Five huge esports problems




Museums, Exhibits, Artists, Milestones, Digital Art, Architecture, Photography,
Photographers, Special Photos, Special Reports, Featured Stories, Auctions, Art Fairs,
Anecdotes, Art Quiz, Education, Mythology, 3D Images, Last Week, .

 



Founder:
Ignacio Villarreal
(1941 - 2019)
Editor & Publisher: Jose Villarreal
Art Director: Juan José Sepúlveda Ramírez
Writer: Ofelia Zurbia Betancourt

Royalville Communications, Inc
produces:

ignaciovillarreal.org juncodelavega.com facundocabral-elfinal.org
Founder's Site. Hommage
to a Mexican poet.
Hommage
       

The First Art Newspaper on the Net. The Best Versions Of Ave Maria Song Junco de la Vega Site Ignacio Villarreal Site
Tell a Friend
Dear User, please complete the form below in order to recommend the Artdaily newsletter to someone you know.
Please complete all fields marked *.
Sending Mail
Sending Successful