After seven years of part-closure and extensive renovation work, Dresden’s Old Masters Picture Gallery will officially reopen to visitors on 29 February – including a special late-night opening on 28 February and free admission until 1 March.
Word famous art in new splendour
Located in the Semper building gallery wing of Dresden’s Zwinger palace, the Old Masters Picture Gallery offers visitors a unique experience of European art history, as the collection, going back to the Saxon electors, includes key works for each era.
The completely redesigned permanent exhibition will emphasise this by presenting paintings according to geographical origin and school, while also highlighting important themes of each period.
World famous masterpieces, such as Raphael’s “Sistine Madonna”, Rembrandt‘s “Ganymede” and the views of Dresden by Bernardo Bellotto, will function as focal points, emphasising the unique status and significance of these painters and their works for European art history.
Alongside modernising the building, more than 20 of the collection’s masterpieces were renovated, plus the exhibition will feature new multimedia display formats.
The museum will also for the first time integrate the Dresden State Art Collection’s Sculpture Collection, showcasing exquisite sculptures from antiquity to 1800. This enhanced set-up will reveal the mutual influences of painting and sculpture as well as underline the importance of antique sculpture for Renaissance and Baroque painting.
During the opening week until 5 March, visitors can expect a range of special events and guided tours.
More 2020 Dresden highlights
When in town, visitors should pencil in Dresden Castle to view the splendid, rebuilt 16th century state apartments that were made accessible last September for the first time after their complete destruction in 1945.
Until 30 June 2020, www.zwinger-experience.com allows visitors to travel back into time by way of a 270° panoramic projection of the horse ballet that was staged for the wedding of Augustus the Strong’s son with the daughter of the Austrian Emperor in 1719.
A new, immersive multimedia installation launching in autumn will then bring Baroque Dresden back to life and take visitors on a virtual reality supported time travel to see how the Zwinger palace changed over time.
For more inspiration on visiting this remarkable city, read Mark Bibby Jackson’s – Dresden: Castles, Steam Trains and a Mickey Mouse Republic.
Reopening of Old Masters Picture Gallery
Late night opening on Friday 28 February from 10pm to 2am, Saturday and Sunday 29 February and 1 March, 10am to 6pm; free admission from 28 February to 1 March with a limited number of timed tickets, tickets available from 12 February at the museum’s ticket office and remaining tickets on the day.
General information
Saxony Tourism is part of the Cultural Heart of Germany, www.cultural-heart-of-germany.com, tourism initiative. For more 2020 event highlights in Saxony’s regions, towns and cities get your free “Cultural highlights in Saxony 2020 – 2021” brochure online.
