Press Releases

Eloas an Preas

	'A German Dream' Masterpieces of Romanticism from the Nationalgalerie Berlin -opens in the National Gallery of Ireland- (16 October 2004 - 30 January 2005)
	Press Release, September 2004 An exhibition of 59 masterpieces of German Romanticism drawn from the exceptional collection of the Alte Nationalgalerie Berlin, will open in the Millennium Wing of the National Gallery of Ireland on 16 October 2004 and continue through to 30 January 2005. Entitled 'A German Dream', the exhibition will offer an introduction to the development of German Romantic painting covering the period 1800 to 1860, featuring portraits and landscapes from the Age of Goethe to the passion, poetry and prose of the late Romanticism. The main focus of the show is landscape art, highlighted by the works of Caspar David Friedrich whose unique compositions are today regarded among the most evocative icons of Romanticism. In his paintings, six of which are included in the exhibition, nature becomes a mirror of the soul, an object of religious meditation, and a place for historic reflection (Man and Woman Contemplating the Moon, c.1818-25). Friedrich was also concerned with the German yearning for unification and liberation, especially as the nation struggled against Napoleonic occupation, and he often employed motifs such as the oak tree, to signify German aspirations. Another artist who explored similar themes was the architect and painter Karl Friedrich Schinkel, with panoramas focusing on German identity (The Rugard on Rügen, 1821), and idealised landscape paintings often dominated by the symbolic presence of great Gothic cathedrals (Medieval City on a River, 1815) or antique fragments. For Germans, the years between the defeat of Napoleon in 1815 and the Revolution of 1848 were a time of relative peace, prosperity and 'technical innovation', and in painting the genres of landscape and portraiture flourished, embracing close observations and naturalistic depiction. In Berlin, Eduard Gaertner (Rear View of the Houses on Schloßfreiheit, 1855) and Johann Erdmann Hummel (The Grinding of the Granite Bowl, 1831) carefully recorded the new city, leaving an invaluable record of the time. In 1809, a group called the Nazarenes were formed who moved to Rome and attempted to recover the style and spirit of Medieval and Renaissance religious art; its leading figure was Friedrich Overbeck, whose work is represented with his Portrait of Franz Pforr, c.1810. A later generation of Romantic painters, including Ludwig Richter and Moritz von Schwind were initially influenced by the Nazarenes, but went on to develop their own distinctive style. Richter painted dramatic landscapes (Lake in the Riesengebirge, 1839), while Schwind's subjects (The Rose or The Artists Journey, 1846/7) were drawn from German literature or fairy tales, and illustrate the widespread Romantic fascination with all things Medieval or even bizarre. The exhibition, 'A German Dream', is organised by the Nationalgalerie Berlin in collaboration with the National Gallery of Ireland. It is curated by Dr. Bernhard Maaz in the Nationalgalerie Berlin and in the National Gallery of Ireland by Fionnuala Croke, Head of Exhibitions. Raymond Keaveney, Director of the National Gallery of Ireland, says: "The Nationalgalerie in Berlin has sought to share its collection as a means of promoting German art of the nineteenth century to an international audience. This exhibition unites the mission of the two historic institutions, bringing to Dublin a selection of iconic paintings, full of idealism, energy and a heightened awareness of a shared German identity." The accompanying exhibition catalogue is edited by Dr. Bernhard Maaz, with additional essays by Kristina Mösl, Dr. Brendan Rooney, Dr. Peter-Klaus Schuster and Dr. Birgit Verwiebe (available from the Gallery Shop, €30). In October, there will be a series of talks on the theme, 'Masterpieces of German Romanticism' (see attached programme) Tickets for the exhibition are €10 & €6 (concessions) and may be purchased directly from the Gallery box office in the Millennium Wing at Clare Street, Dublin 2 or telephone (01) 661 5133. Gallery Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 9.30am-5.30pm; Thursday 9.30am-8.30pm; Sunday 12.00pm- 5.30pm. Closed 24-26 December. For further information, contact: Valerie Keogh / Bill Maxwell Press & Communications Office National Gallery of Ireland Telephone 01-661 5133 Email press@ngi.ie www.nationalgallery.ie Exhibition Talks: 'Masterpieces of German Romanticism' is the theme of the October lecture series held in conjunction with the exhibition, featuring a wide range of experts: Dr. Joachim Fischer, Dr. Lorraine Byrne, Dr. Siobhan O'Donovan, Dr. John Gilmartin, Dr. Bernhard Maaz, Dr. Brendan Rooney, Dr. Jürgen Barkhoff, Dr. Christa-Maria Lerm Hayes, and Regine Reinhardt. See below. 'Masterpieces of German Romanticism' All talks take place in the Gallery Lecture Theatre. Admission free. Sunday 3 October 3.00pm Conveying Images of Ireland and Germany in the 19th Century Lecturer Dr Joachim Fischer, University of Limerick Tuesday 5 October 10.30am 19th Century German Romantic Song and Literature Lecturer Dr Lorraine Byrne, National University Maynooth Sunday 10 October 3.00pm The Background to German Romanticism Lecturer Dr Siobhan Donovan, University College Dublin Tuesday 12 October 10.30am The Influence of German Art on Pre-Raphaelite Painters Lecturer Dr John Gilmartin, Dublin Institute of Technology Sunday 17 October 3.00pm Masterpieces of German Romanticism Lecturer Dr Bernhard Maaz, Nationalgalerie Berlin Tuesday 19 October 10.30am Irish Art and Its Relationship to German Romanticism Lecturer Dr Brendan Rooney, National Gallery of Ireland Sunday 24 October 3.00pm The Cultural and Literary Movements of German Romanticism Lecturer Dr Jurgen Barkhoff, Trinity College Dublin Tuesday 26 October 10.30am German Romanticism and Ireland from 19th century to the present Lecturer Dr Christa-Maria Lerm Hayes, University of Ulster Sunday 31 October 3.00pm How Contemporary is German Romanticism? Lecturer Regine Reinhardt, Journalist "A GERMAN DREAM: Masterpieces of Romanticism from the Nationalgalerie Berlin" 16 October 2004- 30 January 2005 National Gallery of Ireland (Millennium Wing) Telephone (01) 661 5133 www.nationalgallery.ie List of Exhibits (x 59): August Wilhelm Julius AHLBORN (1796-1857) 'Pozzuoli Bay near Naples', 1832 Oil on canvas, 33.8 x 50.6cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Carl BLECHEN (1798-1840) 'Canyon near Amalfi (Gorge near Amalfi)', 1831 Oil on canvas, 110.3 x 77.5 cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin 'Forest Path near Spandau', c. 1835 Oil on canvas, 73 x 97.5cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin 'The Interior of the Palm House', 1832-3 Oil on paper on canvas, 64 x 56 cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin 'Ruin of a Tower with Dragon', 1827 Oil on canvas, 29.3 x 83.3cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin 'Mountain Gorge in Winter', 1825 Oil on canvas, 62 x 49cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Carl Gustav CARUS (1789-1869) 'Balcony Room with view of the Bay of Naples', 1829 Oil on canvas, 28.4 x 21.3 cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin 'Pilgrim in a Rocky Valley', c.1820 Oil on canvas, 40 x 32cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Franz Ludwiz CATEL (1778-1856) 'Schinkel in Naples', 1824 Oil on canvas, 51 x 132cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Carl Philipp FOHR (1795 - 1818) 'Knights in front of the Charcoal Burner's Hut', 1816 Oil on canvas, 58 x 68cm Caspar David FRIEDRICH (1774-1840) 'Man and Woman contemplating the Moon', c. 1818-25 Oil on canvas, 34 x 44 cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin 'Greifswald Harbour', c.1818-20 Oil on canvas 90 x 70cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin 'Deep in a Moonlit Forest', c.1823-30 Oil on canvas, 70.5 x 49cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin 'Snow-Covered Hut', 1827 Oil on canvas, 31 x 25cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin 'Oak Tree in the Snow', 1829 Oil on canvas, 71 x 48cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin 'Riesengebirge', c.1830-35 Oil on canvas 72 x 102cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Eduard GAERTNER (1801-1877) 'Rear view of theHouses on Schlossfreiheit', 1855 Oil on canvas, 73 x 101.5 cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin 'The Gropius Brothers' Workshop in Berlin', 1833 Oil on canvas, 110.3 x 77.5cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin 'The Neue Wache in Berlin', 1833 Oil on canvas, 64 x 56cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin 'Brüderstrasse', 1863 Oil on canvas, 25 x 35.5cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Anton GRAFF (1763-1813) 'The Poetess Elisabeth von der Recke', 1797 Oil on canvas, 97.5 x 70cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin 'Provost Johann Joachim Spalding in a Smoking Jacket', 1800 Oil on canvas, 70.5 x 55cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin 'Self-Portrait with Eye-Shade', 1813 Oil on canvas, 65 x 51cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Jakob Pilipp HACKERT (1737-1807) 'Rocky Landscape with Soldiers', 1800 Oil on canvas, 65.5 x 97cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin 'River Landscape', 1805 Oil on canvas, 64.5 x 96cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Theodor Ferdinand HILDEBRANDT (1804-1874) 'The Robber', 1829 Oil on canvas, 59.5 x 83cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Julius HÜBNER (1806-1882) 'The Painters, Karl Friedrich Lessin, Cark Ferdinand Sohn and Theodor Hildebrandt', 1839 Oil on canvas, 47 x 61cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Johann Erdmann HUMMEL (1769-1852) 'Mrs Louise Mila', 1810/15 Oil on canvas, 47 x 77cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin 'The Grinding of the Granite Bowl', 1831 Oil on canvas, 57 x 96cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Georg Friedrich KERSTING (1785-1847) 'Theodor Körner, Friedrich Friesen and Heinrich Hartmann on Outpost Duty-The Wreath Maker' Oil on canvas, 46 x 35cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin 'Caspar David Friedrich in his Studio', c.1812 Oil on canvas, 53 x 41cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Joseph Anton KOCH (1768-1839) 'Waterfalls at Subiaco', 1812/13 Oil on canvas, 45 x 61cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Carl Ludwig KUHBEIL (c.1770-1823) 'Sacred Grove', 1812 Oil on canvas, 69 x 55cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Ernst Ferdinand OEHME (1797-1855) 'Hohnstein Castle in Saxon Switzerland', 1827 Oil on canvas, 42 x 33cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin 'Scharfenberg Castle at Night', 1827 Oil on canvas, 86 x 73 Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Friedrich OVERBECK (1789-1869) 'The Painter Franz Pforr', 1810 (reworked, 1865) Oil on canvas, 91 x 118 cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin 'Christ in the House of Mary and Martha', 1812-16 Oil on canvas, 62 x 47cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Ludwig RICHTER (1803-1884) 'Well in the Woods near Ariccia', 1831 Oil on canvas, 46 x 75cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin 'Lake in the Riesengebirge', 1839 Oil on canvas, 75 x 98cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Johann Martin von ROHDEN (1778-1868) 'Tivoli', 1848 Oil on canvas, 120 x 92cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Carl ROTTMANN (1795-1850) 'Landscape near Perugia', c.1829 Oil on canvas, 48.8 x 66.5cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Philipp Otto RUNGE (1777-1810) 'Wife and Son of the Artist', 1807 Oil on canvas, 97 x 73cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Wilhelm von SCHADOW (1788-1862) 'Self-Portrait with brother Ridolfo Schadow and Bertel Thorvaldsen', 1815/16 Oil on canvas, 54 x 66cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Gottlieb SCHICK (1776-1812) 'Heinrike Danneker', 1802 Oil on canvas, 119 x 100cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Karl Friedrich SCHINKEL (1781-1841) 'Morning', 1813 Oil on canvas, 28.4 x 21.3cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin 'Gothic Cathedral by the Water', 1813 (copy by Ahlborn, 1823) Oil on canvas, 100.5 x 127cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin 'Medieval City on a River', 1815 Oil on canvas, 80 x 106.5 cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin 'Harvest Festival Procession', c.1815 (copy by Johann Friedrich Bonte, 1826) Oil on canvas, 80 x 106.5cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin 'The Rugard on Rügen', 1821 Oil on paper on canvas, 95 x 140 cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin 'Greek Ideal Landscape with Restling Shepherds', 1823 Oil on canvas, 73 x 58 Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Julius SCHNORR von CAROLSFELD (1794 - 1872) 'The Annunciation', 1820 Oil on canvas, 103 x 85.5cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Adolf SCHRÖDTER (1805-1875) 'Don Quixote Reading in his Armchair', 1834 Oil on canvas, 59.5 x 83cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Moritz von SCHWIND (1804-1871) 'Sabina von Steinbach', 1844 Oil on canvas, 54.5 x 46cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin 'The Rose, or The Artist's Journey', 1846-7 Oil on canvas, 38.6 x 58.4cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin 'Farewell at Dawn', 1859 Oil on canvas, 54 x 41cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Ferdinand Georg WALDMÜLLER (1793-1865) 'The Mother of Captain von Stierle-Holzmeister', c.1819 Oil on canvas, 63 x 88cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin 'Captain von Stierle-Holzmeister', c.1819 Oil on canvas, 114 x 99cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Friedrich Georg WEITSCH (1758-1828) 'Portrait of David Friedländer', c.1815 Oil on canvas, 72 x 57cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin 'Alexander von Humboldt', 1806 Oil on canvas, 126 x 92.5cm Courtesy, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin