Museum Barberini

Located in the heart of Potsdam, the Museum Barberini stands as a beacon of art and culture in Brandenburg, Germany. This magnificent art museum, housed in the meticulously reconstructed Barberini Palace, invites visitors to explore a diverse array of art collections spanning from the Old Masters to contemporary works. The museum is particularly renowned for its impressive collection of Impressionist art, making it a must-visit destination for art enthusiasts and casual tourists alike.

The History of Museum Barberini

The story of Museum Barberini is as captivating as the art it houses. The original Barberini Palace, built in the 1770s, was a stunning example of classical baroque architecture inspired by the Palazzo Barberini in Rome. Unfortunately, the palace was nearly destroyed during an air raid on Potsdam in April 1945, leaving only parts of its façade standing. For decades, the site remained vacant, a silent witness to the ravages of war.

The transformation began when Hasso Plattner, a software entrepreneur and philanthropist, undertook the reconstruction of the palace as part of the revitalization of Potsdam’s historic center. The groundbreaking ceremony took place in August 2013, and the reconstruction focused on restoring the original façade while creating a modern interior that could accommodate a state-of-the-art art museum. The result is a harmonious blend of historical elegance and contemporary functionality, with 17 exhibition halls spread over three floors, offering a total of 2,200 square meters of exhibition space. The museum also features a shop, café, restaurant, and an auditorium for various cultural events.

Exploring the Exhibitions

The Museum Barberini offers a rich tapestry of exhibitions, with themes ranging from classical art to modern masterpieces. The museum hosts three major exhibitions annually, featuring loans from prestigious international museums and private collections. These exhibitions are thoughtfully curated to provide visitors with a deep and engaging understanding of the art on display.

One of the highlights of the museum is the monumental sculpture Der Jahrhundertschritt by Wolfgang Mattheuer, prominently displayed in the museum’s courtyard. This striking piece serves as a powerful introduction to the museum’s commitment to showcasing significant works of art.

Impressionism and Beyond

The Museum Barberini is particularly celebrated for its extensive collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art, thanks to the Hasso Plattner Collection. Since September 2020, the museum has showcased 107 works from this collection, including masterpieces by Claude Monet, Gustave Caillebotte, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Signac, Alfred Sisley, Maurice de Vlaminck, Berthe Morisot, Camille Pissarro, and Henri-Edmond Cross.

Visitors can marvel at Monet’s Grainstack, one of the most famous pieces in the collection, acquired at a Sotheby’s auction in New York in 2019. With 38 paintings by Monet, the Museum Barberini boasts the largest collection of his works outside of Paris, solidifying its reputation as a premier center for Impressionist landscape painting.

The permanent exhibition is organized around eight central themes, offering a comprehensive overview of the evolution of French landscape painting from the 1860s to the early 20th century. This thoughtful curation allows visitors to trace the development of Impressionism, Neo-Impressionism, and Fauvism, and to appreciate the interconnectedness of these artistic movements.

Notable Past Exhibitions

Since its opening in January 2017, the Museum Barberini has hosted numerous notable exhibitions. In its inaugural year, the museum presented Classics of Modernism, Impressionism: The Art of Landscape, and From Hopper to Rothko: America’s Road to Modernism, featuring loans from the Hermitage in St. Petersburg and the National Gallery in Washington, D.C.

In 2018, the museum explored the idea of the world theater in the art of Max Beckmann with an exhibition that included over 110 loans from major international collections. The same year, the museum hosted Gerhard Richter: Abstraction, a comprehensive examination of the artist’s abstract work, and the first German retrospective of Neo-Impressionist Henri-Edmond Cross.

In 2019, the museum showcased the late works of Pablo Picasso from the Jacqueline Picasso Collection, and an exhibition on Baroque art featuring Caravaggio’s Narcissus. The year concluded with Van Gogh: Still Lifes, the first exhibition dedicated to this theme, in collaboration with the Kröller-Müller Museum and the Van Gogh Museum.

Visiting the Museum Barberini

A visit to the Museum Barberini is more than just a tour of an art museum; it is a journey through time and artistic expression. The museum’s location on the historic Alter Markt, surrounded by other architectural gems, adds to the overall experience. After exploring the exhibitions, visitors can relax in the museum’s café or browse the shop for unique souvenirs.

Whether you are an art aficionado or simply looking to immerse yourself in the cultural richness of Potsdam, the Museum Barberini offers an unforgettable experience. Its blend of historical architecture, cutting-edge exhibitions, and world-class art collections make it a highlight of any visit to Brandenburg.