The powerful Wittelsbach Royal Family ruled Bavaria from the 1100s through 1918 and during their reign also produced 2 Holy Roman Emperors, a German King, a King of Greece, King of Rome, and Kings of Scandinavia. As you can imagine with such vast influence the Wittelsbachs accumulated a trove of wealth and art. In the early 1800s King Ludwig I had a huge art complex built to hold the Royal family's vast painting collection. When the Pinakothek building opened in 1836 it became the
largest museum in the World. One of the huge galleries was built just to house Rubens's "Last Judgment" from 1617 which was one of the largest canvasses ever painted.
Known today as the
Alte Pinakothek, the Wittelsbach's first major museum build now focuses on the Old Master painters.
We spent considerable time exploring the Old Masters - however -about half of the museum is closed for renovations.
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| Yes - I am really seeing the self portrait of Albrecht Durer - a painting I have wanted to see for a long time. |
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| Albrecht Durer is a "rock star" artist whose ability was undisputed genius but whose ego got the better of him. In this controversial self portrait - Durer has painted himself as Christ. |
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