Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister

⚠️ TEMPORARILY CLOSED for renovation. Scheduled to reopen March 20, 2026.

Overview

The Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister (Old Masters Picture Gallery) is one of the most important painting collections in the world, housed in the Zwinger's Semper Wing. Its 750+ works span the 15th to 18th centuries with masterpieces of Italian, Dutch, Flemish, and German painting.

Highlights

• Sistine Madonna (1512): Raphael's iconic painting with the two famous cherubs at the bottom, acquired by Augustus III in 1754.
• Vermeer's Girl Reading a Letter: Recently restored to reveal a hidden Cupid painting in the background.
• Giorgione's Sleeping Venus: One of the earliest reclining female nudes in Western art.

History

The collection began under Elector Augustus I in the 16th century and was vastly expanded by Augustus III, who acquired 268 paintings from the Duke of Modena in 1746. The gallery moved into Gottfried Semper's purpose-built wing in 1855. After 1945, Soviet troops removed the paintings to Moscow; they were returned in 1955.

Visitor Tips

• Start with Room 117 (Raphael and Italian Renaissance) and work outward.
• Closed Mondays.
• Duration: 1.5–2 hours.