Berlin, Kupferstichkabinett
Owner Id00030201
TypeCorporate body
Biographical dates - Period of existence1831 -
Other InformationThe Kupferstichkabinett was officially founded in 1831, with a collection of drawings and watercolours acquired by Frederick William I in 1652 at its core. It was first housed in the Altes Museum beside the collections of Old Master paintings and Classical sculpture from ancient Greece and Rome, as exemplars of "High Art". The collection grew throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, with the addition of Medieval, Renaissance and later works, including drawings by Albrecht Dürer and Matthias Grünewald, Sandro Botticelli's illustrations of Dante's Divine Comedy (purchased in 1882), and the estate of Adolph Menzel.[3] Prominent members of former staff include Max Lehrs. In 1986 the Kupferstichkabinett took over the graphics collection of the National Gallery of Berlin, whose emphasis was on 20th-century prints, including Expressionist works that the Nazis had classified as "degenerate" and confiscated. In 1994 it opened in a new building in the Kulturforum, reuniting the parts of the collection that had been split between East and West Berlin together with the National Gallery's collection.
Variant NamesKupferstich-Sammlung der königlichen Museen
Activity
Start (year)1831
MARC Area Codee-gx
Profession / Type of InstitutionMuseum
CharacterisationNo characterisation/lay
Last Edit2021-12-11 13:17:44