Alte Pinakothek
Munich, Germany
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Visitor Information
Museum Address
Barer Straße 27, 80333 Munich, Germany
Munich, Germany
Ticket Prices
€9 (€1 on Sundays)
Featured Artists
15 artists in database
King Ludwig I of Bavaria created the Alte Pinakothek to share his dynasty's art collection with the public. When it opened in 1836, it was the largest museum building in the world and soon became a model for galleries across Europe, influencing the Hermitage in St. Petersburg and museums in Rome and Brussels. The Wittelsbach family had collected paintings since the 1500s, and Ludwig added aggressively, purchasing the Boisserée collection of 216 Old German and Dutch masters in 1827 and the Wallerstein collection two years later.
The collection excels in Northern European painting, holding the world's largest group of Rubens paintings and the most comprehensive collection of German Old Masters. Hans Memling's devotional works, Hieronymus Bosch's apocalyptic visions, and Adriaen Brouwer's tavern scenes represent the collection's range. Jan Steen, Gerard ter Borch, and Dürer's masterful self-portrait all hang here. World War II bombing devastated the building, and architect Hans Döllgast's 1957 reconstruction deliberately left bomb damage visible in unrendered brickwork. The "wounds" remain a memorial to wartime destruction.
Visiting Alte Pinakothek
Dürer's Self-Portrait (1500) is the icon. Franz Marc's Tower of Blue Horses is a key modern work. Rubens, Memling, and Boucher fill the Old Master galleries.
European painting from the 14th to 18th centuries. Northern Renaissance (Dürer, Cranach, Altdorfer), Flemish Baroque (Rubens fills an entire wing), and Italian Renaissance masters are the three pillars.
One of the biggest Rubens collections anywhere. Over 70 works, including large altarpieces and mythological scenes. He gets multiple rooms on the upper floor. Baroque painting doesn't get more dramatic than this.
In Munich's Kunstareal (art district), alongside the Neue and Moderne Pinakothek. The building dates to 1836 and was one of the first purpose-built public galleries. Boucher's Reclining Girl hangs in the French galleries.
Albrecht Dürer is the star, with his famous 1500 self-portrait. Cranach, Altdorfer, and Grünewald represent the Northern Renaissance. Franz Marc's Expressionist works bridge into the modern era.
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Browse Our CollectionPlease note: Artwork locations and display status may change. Some paintings may be on loan, in restoration, or moved to different galleries within the museum. We recommend contacting Alte Pinakothek directly to confirm specific artwork availability before your visit.
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