Page 384 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Germany

382  WESTERN GERM AN Y FR ANKFUR T A M M AIN  383

Frankfurt – Städelsches Kunstinstitut . Lucca Madonna VISITORS’ CHECKLIST
This small painting by Jan van Eyck,
The founder of this excellent museum, . The Geographer which evokes an intimate and Practical Information
intensely private
banker Johann Friedrich Städel, left his (1669) atmosphere, takes its Schaumainkai 63. Tel (069) 605
art collection to the town in 1815. Since Although the signature name from its former 09 80. Open 10am–6pm Tue–
Wed & Sat–Sun, 10am–9pm Thu
then, the museum has grown through on the painting is not owner, Charles Ludwig & Fri. & - = 8
acquisitions and donations, and now genuine, there is no de Bourbon, Duke ∑ staedelmuseum.de
doubt that this picture,
contains many masterpieces from seven depicting a scholar at of Lucca.
centuries of European art. It moved to a work, is the work of
Neo-Renaissance building in 1878, on the Jan Vermeer van Delft.
picturesque “museum embankment” by
the Main. In the 1920s it acquired the
Hohenzollern collection from Sigmar-
ingen. The museum has undergone
renovation and new buildings have been
constructed, including a subterranean Ideal Portrait of a
exhibition hall for contemporary art. Woman (around 1480)
Simonetta Vespucci,
mistress of Giuliano
Medici, is the subject of
Ecce Homo this painting by Sandro
Members of the family who Botticelli. Her pendant
commissioned this painting belonged at the time to
from Hieronymus Bosch also Second the Medici collection.
originally figured in it, but floor
they were later painted over
and now only a few figures
are partially visible.
First floor

Pilgrimage to the Isle of Cythera (around 1710)
Jean-Antoine Watteau painted three pictures on this
theme, inspired by Dancourt’s play The Three Sisters.
The museum holds the earliest of the three, which
shows a Flemish influence.
. Blinding of Samson (1636)
Rembrandt’s dramatic painting depicts the
violent blinding of Samson by the Philistines
after Delilah cut off his hair.
Ground
floor
Gallery Guide
The ground floor is used for Orchestra Players
changing exhibitions of prints Around 100,000 prints Key (1870–74)
and drawings, as well as a book and drawings, dating Edgar Degas, not
store and a museum shop. The from the 14th century Old Master Paintings completely satisfied with his
1300–1800
first floor is devoted to 19th- and to the present day painting, retrieved it from its
20th-century art and the second and making up one of Main entrance Modern Art 1800–1945 owner. In 1874, he cropped
floor to the Old Masters. An Germany’s most valuable Special Exhibitions it on three sides, added a bit
under ground wing houses collections, are exhibited Library Department of Prints at the top and repainted
contemporary art. in this exhibition hall. and Drawings the entire painting.
For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp499–500 and pp525–6

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