Städel Museum — Attraction in Frankfurt

It is one of the most important museums in the country, known for its vast collection of European art spanning from the Middle Ages to the present day. Here's some information about the Städel Museum:

History: The Städel Museum was founded in 1815 by the Frankfurt banker and patron Johann Friedrich Städel. It initially began as a foundation to support the arts and sciences, and over the years, the museum has grown significantly through acquisitions, donations, and expansions.

Collection: The museum's collection features over 3,100 paintings, 660 sculptures, 4,600 photographs, and numerous drawings, prints, and decorative art objects. It encompasses a wide range of artistic periods and styles, including works by Old Masters such as Rembrandt, Vermeer, Botticelli, and Dürer, as well as important pieces from the Impressionist, Expressionist, and contemporary art movements.

Highlights: The Städel Museum houses many notable artworks that attract art enthusiasts and visitors. Some highlights include "The Birth of Venus" by Sandro Botticelli, "The Blinding of Samson" by Rembrandt, "The Sower" by Vincent van Gogh, and "The Large Blue Horses" by Franz Marc, among others.

Departments: The museum is divided into different departments, allowing visitors to explore various art genres and periods. These departments include Old Masters, Modern Art, Contemporary Art, Prints and Drawings, and a Department of Photography.

Expansion: In 2012, the Städel Museum underwent a major expansion project, which added new exhibition spaces, educational facilities, and a contemporary art wing called the Garden Halls. The expansion aimed to provide a modern and dynamic environment for visitors to engage with art.

Education and Events: The Städel Museum offers educational programs, workshops, guided tours, and lectures for visitors of all ages. It also hosts temporary exhibitions, cultural events, and concerts, providing a diverse range of experiences beyond the permanent collection.

The Städel Museum stands as a cultural landmark in Frankfurt, offering a comprehensive journey through the history of European art. Its extensive collection, educational initiatives, and commitment to showcasing art from various periods and styles make it a must-visit destination for art lovers and cultural...

In 1939, the collection was moved out of Frankfurt to protect it from damage in World War II. The collection of the Städel Museum was removed from the museum to avoid destruction from the Allied bombings, and the collection was stored in the Schloss Rossbach, a castle owned by the Baron Thüngen near Bad Brückenau in Bavaria. There, the museum's paintings and library were discovered by Lt. Thomas Carr Howe, USN, of the American Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives program. Although the Baron von Thüngen and his wife were uncooperative with the Americans, Frau Dr. Holzinger, a licensed physician and the Swiss wife of the Städel Museum director, was present at the site and assisted with the cataloging and the removal of the items to the Munich Central Collecting Point. Lt. Howe said, “The first room to be inspected was a library adjoining the sitting room in which we had been waiting. Here we found a quantity of excellent French Impressionist paintings, all from the permanent collection of the Städel Museum, and a considerable number of fine Old Master drawings. Most of these were likewise the property of the museum, but a few – I remember one superb Rembrandt sketch – appeared to have come from Switzerland. Those would, of course, have to be looked into later, to determine their exact origin and how they came to be on loan to the museum. But for the moment we were concerned primarily with storage conditions and the problem of security. In another room we found an enormous collection of books, the library of one of the Frankfurt museums. In a third we encountered an array of medieval sculpture – saints all sizes and description, some of carved wood, others of stone, plain or polychromed. These too, were of museum origin. The last storage room was below ground, a vast, cavernous chamber beneath the house. Here was row upon row of pictures, stacked in two tiers down the center of the room and also along two sides. From what we could make of them in the poor light, they were not of high quality. During the summer months they would be alright in the underground room, but we thought the place would be very damp in the winter. Frau Holzinger assured us that this was so and that the pictures should be removed before the bad...

The Städel Museum is is one of the most important fine art collections in Germany. Entry tickets can be purchased online at the museum website if you want to skip the queue at the ticketing desk.

We found the Rembrandt's Amsterdam special exhibition to be very good. Two floors of exhibition space were used while presenting numerous works from the Rijks, Amsterdam City Museum, Städel and others to present a tale of Amsterdam's flourishing commerce, trade and societal life and development during the Golden Age. We spent just over an hour going through the exhibition, finding it very good for art lovers and history fans alike.

Also enjoyed seeing the excellent permanent collection of work by European Old Masters. A bit of a whos-who list of works by Flemish, Dutch, French, Spanish, Italian and German giants across important historic art genres. Allow 60+ minutes to browse this part of the museum collection.

We also found the Modern Art collection within the museum to be very good. There is a nice range of works by 19th to early 20th century Masters including works of the Blue Riders as well as German representation such as Max Beckman and Otto Dix to go along with your expected names including Cezanne, Manet, Monet, Matisse, Renoir, Ernst, Munch, Delacroix, Rodin and likes.

There is also a floor dedicated to contemporary art of the 20th-century. Unfortunately after 3.5 hours of viewing we had run out of time and were unable to visit this section of the museum on this particular visit. Also, the famous rooftop of the museum was closed on the day we visited due to snowy conditions.

Overall, we were very impressed with the organisation and fine representation of works of the Städel Museum. It is not just a thorough collection but there are many fine works to be viewed as well. Makes for a very nice way to spend a few hours if you are an art lover visiting Frankfurt. We will gladly return next time...