Munich - Old Picture Gallery

(Local Name: Alte Pinakothek) The Alte Pinakothek, one of the world's largest and finest picture galleries, was built by Leo von Klenze between 1826 and 1836, replacing the older gallery by the Hofgarten which had become too small for the steadily increasing Royal Collection. The building was so badly damaged by air attack in 1944-45 that demolition was contemplated; but between 1953 and 1963 it was restored, and the gallery's treasures, which had been stored elsewhere for safety, could again be put on display.

This "masterpiece of architectural proportion" (Wölfflin) is modeled on the Renaissance palaces of Venice. It was the largest gallery built in the first half of the 19th century and as such became the model for others in Rome and Brussels. It is a massive structure, 127m/417ft long with short side wings (37m/121ft from front to rear). The 24 statues (by Ludwig Schwanthaler) of famous painters on the south front and the frescoes (by Peter Cornelius) in the interior were destroyed in the wartime bombing.

Further restoration work was carried out in the late 1970s.