WHAT TO DO ON A WINTER'S DAY?

During the winter months it is too cold for outside activities and yet, the perfect time to expand your horizons. Yesterday was one such day.  Fortunately,  I was priviledged to attend Alex Koch's gallery tour of the Neue Pinakothek in Munich.  This museum, founded by King Ludwig I of Bavaria, contains major works of European art from classicism to art nouveau.  

Our tour was of German art throughout the ages.  Because of this, an understanding of Johann Georg von Dillis was needed to fully understand this great collection.

For most of Dillis' life, a trained painter, he was appointed as a curator for the Bavarian court.  Close to Ludwig I, he traveled throughout Germany, France, and Italy advising the crown prince on collecting and other matters for most of his life.  It is largely due to him that this collection has been available to us today.

Pastoral scenes painted by Dillis depict landscapes such as this one of the Tegensee in its' original state, before Ludwig's plan to build and establish his kingdom.  Today, this same location would include churches, storefronts, homes, and other buildings.  It was interesting to see the landscape in it's primary state.

The Neue Pinakothek was originally built in 1853 but after the destruction of WWII a new building was built and opened in 1981.  Today, it stands as the most important museum

of the nineteeth century art in the world. 

Here is how it would have appeared in the 1800's.  Notice the colorful artwork on the facade.  Sadly, rather than rebuild after most of it was turned to rubble, the new building was built.  Beautiful in its own right, the first building has been lost forever.

One of the most beloved painting, by Munchener's, is the one below called, "Seni vor der Leiche Wallensteins" (Seni before the body of Wallenstein, 1855). 

Jacques-Louis David painted "Anne-Marie-Louise Thelusson, Comtesse de Sorcy", below.

Thomas Gainsbourough painted "Mrs. Thomas Hibbert," below.

One of my personal favorites is this one by Max Liebermann, "Boys Bathing."

There are Gauguins, "ti tamari no atua."

Van Gogh's, "Sunflowers."

And a spectacular Edouard Manet, "Luncheon in the Studio," 1868, that is also beloved by Munich, just to name a few.

You could spend a week in this museum and never see all that you would like to see. If its' art didn't capture your imagination, you could simply go across the street and visit the Alte Pinakothek's collection of 700 painting schosen from the 14th to the 18th centrury.

I believe that there are some 148 attractions, including museums, to visit in Munich.  Plenty to keep me occupied on a cold winters' day.  A person can tour alone, with headphones, or be very fortunate as we were with Alex Koch who offers these tours for the International Women's Club.  

Thank you, Alex.  It was delightful.  I look forward to

the next exhibit in March!