Old Masters Picture Gallery, Dresden (must see)

The Old Masters Picture Gallery is one of Dresden’s most important art museums and forms part of the Dresden State Art Collections. Located in the Semper Building at the Zwinger, it brings together masterpieces from the Italian Renaissance, Dutch and Flemish Golden Age, and German, Spanish and French schools.

The collection dates back to 1560, when Augustus, Elector of Saxony, founded an Art Chamber. During the 18th century, Augustus the Strong and his heir, Frederick Augustus II, greatly expanded the collection through acquisitions from across Europe. In 1753, the Electors acquired Raphael’s Sistine Madonna, which soon became the gallery’s most celebrated masterpiece. The growing collection eventually moved into the Semper Gallery, completed in 1855.

During the Second World War, the paintings were stored for safekeeping but were later confiscated by the Red Army. The surviving works were returned to Dresden in 1955, and the Old Masters Gallery reopened in 1960. Following a major renovation costing around $50 million, completed in 2020, the gallery now presents its paintings alongside an impressive collection of sculptures. Around 700 paintings are displayed among 420 sculptures, creating a more dynamic museum experience.

For tourists, Raphael’s Sistine Madonna is an essential highlight. Look closely at the two famous cherubs at the bottom of the painting. Other notable works include Vermeer’s Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window, Rembrandt’s Ganymede, and Titian’s The Tribute Money, alongside masterpieces by Dürer, Rubens and Canaletto.

The redesigned galleries are particularly striking, with paintings grouped by region and period and displayed against vibrant coloured walls. Italian works appear against rich crimson backgrounds, while French and Spanish paintings are presented against blue. Combined with the elegant architecture of the Semper Building and the surrounding Zwinger, the gallery offers an excellent introduction to Dresden’s royal collecting tradition and the history of European art.