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…one of the most common religious themes of the Baroque period. Johann Christian Thomas Wink submitted this Assumption of the Virgin for the painterly redecoration of Munich'…

Strangers in Works of Art. Dr. Thomas Schindler The guided tour is free. Standard museum admission applies.

Hardly any other decorative glass art is more closely associated with the name Tiffany than the table, pendant and floor lamps with colourful geometric and floral patterns.…

This small winged retable is absolutely singular and in an excellent state of conservation. Particularly noteworthy is the filigree architectural finial with its two spires, which…

…technology. Princely patrons had these machines constructed from the 16th century onwards. Up until the 19th century, ornamental turning was regarded as a contemplative…

The draft for a funerary monument was conceived by Anselm Sickinger (1807-1873), a sculptor, woodcarver and stonemason who ran a respected and productive sculpture workshop in…

In 1885, King Ludwig II of Bavaria commissioned a "Byzantine" prayer book for the planned bedroom at Falkenstein Castle. The monarch entrusted the miniaturist Hans Fleschütz with…

The 18th century was the Age of Enlightenment, when science flourished as never before. Scientific instruments supported teaching at universities and helped a broad public to…

The globes of the Venetian scholar Vincenzo Coronelli were famous for their magnificent imagery and were also known to document the latest geographical discoveries. At the time,…

In the Baroque period, gaming tables were among the most important pieces of furniture in palaces and residences, as social games and gambling were an essential part of courtly…

In 1300, the Catholic Church proclaimed for the first time a Holy Year of Jubilee in Rome which has been celebrated at certain intervals ever since. Traditionally, the Jubilee…

In the 19th century, stoves in the form of standing and sitting life-size women and men became popular in rural areas of Bavaria, Austria and southwestern Germany. While fully…

With this table lamp, French Art Nouveau sculptor François Raoul Larche created a spectacular monument to the American Loïe Fuller (1862-1928). In the 1890s, Fuller rose to become…

…the high standards of the Electoral Collection in Düsseldorf. Georg Steiner, who created the goblet, was the court-turner and had already taught Johann Wilhelm at the lathe when…

…have to travel to Munich to see one of the most prominent examples of Viking art. This wholly singular object was probably created as a diplomatic gift for the emperor. It was…

…cabinet originally stood in the magnificent palace of Count Rheinstein-Tattenbach, which was located on Theatinerstrasse in Munich. The wall and ceiling panels are made of the…

…by Elector Max Emanuel, this monumental timepiece exemplifies the collaborative work of Augsburg craftsmen. The carpenter Heinrich Eichler is considered to be the principal…

In the 18th century, childbirth was fraught with danger and the risk of mortality was high for both the mother and the new-born child. Accordingly, parents were grateful when a…

The hand-washing ceremony with jug and basin was a privilege of the highest-ranking person at the princely table. In keeping with the importance of this ceremonial act, lavabo…

Symbolising the white and blue heraldic colours of Bavaria, ivory and lapis lazuli - the most precious materials imaginable - were used for the cabinet's palatial interior front…

This table is a magnificent example of the combination of finest cabinetmaking with precious porcelain elements and high-quality bronzes, which is characteristic of the Empire…

This bass viola da gamba is one of the most magnificent instruments made by Tielke, who was one of the leading instrument makers of his time. The instrument was made for Elector…

This relief is undisputedly considered the best work in ivory surviving from Late Antiquity. With utmost virtuosity, the artist explores the limits of what was technically…

Along with René Lalique, Lucien Gaillard is one of the leading Parisian jewellers of the Art Nouveau period. His extravagant designs were above all inspired by motifs from the…

The Parisian designer René Lalique was the pre-eminent decorative artist of his time. This pendant is proof of this. It is a spectacular interpretation of the pansy, a flower…

Votive offerings are symbolic gifts of gratitude. They are offered in places of worship, usually in pilgrimage chapels, on the basis of a vow to a heavenly power or a specific…

Cowherd, journeyman baker, coal carrier and municipal servant – at first glance, the career of the sculptor Hans Schmitt shows no close connection to the arts. At the end of the…

Nach inhaltlicher Neukonzipierung, aufwändigen Restaurierungsarbeiten und sensiblen Raumrekonstruktionen öffnet das Bayerische Nationalmuseum ab dem 5. März 2026 einige seit knapp…

The Roman god Vulcan is depicted with his assistants forging Aeneas´ weapons for the battle of the Trojans against the Latins. The goddess Venus, Aeneas´ mother, who had persuaded…

The beautiful young woman lies asleep on a luxurious chaise longue. The furniture and the fashionable outfit only seem to contradict the depiction as a shepherdess. In the Rococo…

This rifle is one of the most beautiful weapons produced by German gunsmiths in the 18th century. Extremely fine reliefs with hunting scenes and Rococo ornamentation adorn the…

…said to have been a gift from the Habsburg Emperor Charles VI to Tsarina Anna Ivanovna, who was one of his main allies. The gift was certainly most welcome, for the Tsarina loved…

…and also preferred using French terms. Richly embroidered men's suits of silk fabric were called habit habillés. The suit consisted of a waistcoat, gilet and breeches and was…

A mitre is the headdress worn by a bishop or abbot during worship. As an important insignia of church dignitaries, it was made of precious material. This example shows a…

This relief is a key work of art in Bavaria from the first half of the 14th century. This period bears the hallmark of Ludwig the Bavarian, the first and for a long time the only…

In Europe the mystery behind making porcelain was only unveiled around 1707/08 in Meissen. It was called the Arcanum and was closely guarded secret. This case is a unique document…

The elegantly proportioned sword is considered one of the most beautiful swords of the Middle Ages. The Virgin Mary with Child is depicted on the flat side of the disc-shaped…

Stained-glass windows played a significant role in defining the effect of the medieval church interiors. The Museum's most extensive set of windows comes from the Minorite Church…

This goblet is unique: the cup and lid form the head of a young black man adorned with a precious headdress. The base of the neck shows an eagle with three crescent moons. The…

…originally held a purse in his raised right hand and the caduceus in his left. He was always easily recognisable by this snake-entwined staff, the wings on his heels and his hat.…

This imposing grille was once part of the baroque decoration of the gothic Dominican church St Blaise in Regensburg. Richly decorated with foliage and strapwork, the gates and…

…of the precious porcelains at the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum originally came from the Wittelsbach court and can be traced back to the 18th century. Due to their family…

…half a century, he left his mark on the arts in Bavaria and Salzburg. His identity, however, has so far not yet been fully established, which is why he is called the 'Master of…

…Munich goldsmiths of his time, and the designer Anton Seder from Strasbourg created with the 'Grail' their most important masterpiece. This precious centrepiece, made…

…room in the Cistercian Abbey of Salem at Lake Constance. The complex but concealed clockwork by the Viennese Augustinian priest Aurelius a San Daniele displays various time…

Canopy beds were a customary bridal accessory in rural areas in the 18th and 19th centuries. The ornamental painting on this bed is a reference to this occasion. The side boards…

Johann Baptist Seitz, the creator of this city model, was a multi-talented engraver at the topographical office, the forerunner of the Bavarian Surveying Office, who was looking…

This magnificent dress is justifiably famous all over the world. It is one of the very few complete women's garments from the 16th century to have survived. It is made of olive…

…Mary. The motif of Mary in Hope enjoyed increasing popularity from the 14th century onwards in southern Germany, especially in Altbayern (Old Bavaria), but also in neighbouring…

During the Renaissance, the art of cutting and engraving gems known as glyptic reached a new peak with the rise of the princely Kunst- und Wunderkammern (cabinets of arts and…