Neue Pinakothek — Munich's Trove of 19th-Century Painting

At a Glance

The Neue Pinakothek sits at the heart of Munich's Kunstareal and is dedicated to 19th-century European painting. It bridges the Alte Pinakothek (Old Masters) and the Pinakothek der Moderne (20th century), covering Romanticism, Realism, Impressionism, and Symbolism under a single roof.

Note: the building is temporarily closed for a major renovation. Highlights are rotating through the Alte Pinakothek and Sammlung Schack in the meantime—check the official site for the latest venue.

From a Royal Collection to a Public Museum

Founded in 1853 by King Ludwig I to open his contemporary collection to the public, the museum was destroyed in WWII and rebuilt to a design by Alexander von Branca, reopening in 1981. The galleries are lit mostly from above, and visitors often say it is "the easiest museum in which to look at a painting."

Must-See Works

• Van Gogh — Sunflowers (1888) — one of the Arles series.
• Caspar David Friedrich — Monk by the Sea, Riesengebirge Landscape — German Romanticism at its core.
• Monet — The Bridge at Argenteuil, Waterlilies — anchoring the Impressionist rooms.
• Klimt — Portrait of Margaret Stonborough-Wittgenstein — Symbolism with a Viennese edge.
• Goya, Turner, Manet — key Spanish, British, and French voices of the 19th century.

Visiting Tips

When the building reopens, plan two to three hours moving Romanticism → Realism → Impressionism → Symbolism. The Kunstareal combo ticket with the Alte and Moderne is the best value. During the closure, Van Gogh and Monet remain on view in the Alte Pinakothek's northeast wing.