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Berlin's Gemäldegalerie

If you visit Berlin, forget the Disney World attraction ont the roof of the Reichstag and various somber and forgettable Jewish memorials. Ignore Checkpoint Charlie and make a bee-line to the Gemäldegallerie.

The Gemäldegalerie in Berlin's Potsdam area was built as an overflow of the Alten Nationalgalerie on the Museum island. The older gallery contained some nice French masterpieces when I visited but it's principle collections appears to be Berlin artists who are largely unknown … for good reason. The Gemäldegalerie on the other hand has a fine permanent collection of art of all eras … and in particular a very fine collection of 15th and 16th century Western paintings. There are, however, no Russian impressionists to balance the painters that we know.

Reclining Nude

The first painting that met the eye in a large exhibition of Western Paintings from the 14th through 16th centuries at the Gemäldegalerie looked familiar. It was remarkably like Botticelli's Venus arising from the ocean.

Indeed, it was one of many studies that he prepared before painting his masterpiece.

The figure has the same stance but the two braids hanging down her neck look remarkably like the straps of a dress whereas the final version has windblown tresses.

The final version stands at a slight angle giving the impression that she is not standing still but she is in motion stepping ashore from her shell, which has just touched shore.

Click on the second painting to see the whole "Birth of Venus."

Girl with a Pearl Necklace.

The same exhibition also contained a good representation of Flemish paintings including two Vermeers (one on the left), two Steens (one on the right), and others by de Hooch, ter Borsch, Aertsen and many more.

The two by Jan Steen showed the result of a card game when one player draws his sword and accuses the other of cheating. Friends restrain him and abackgammon board lies on the floor. A second painting on the same idea hung next to this one.

I forget the artist who painted the dramatic scene below. If you know, please let me know. Thanks. Mail to: John Graham

Accusations at the Card Game

The dog barks and the child screams while the woman restrains the drunken swordsman and others enjoy the moment..

a reclining nude. See also The history of Reclining Nudes.

Giovanni di Busi.

This is only a taste to inspire you to visit the Gemäldegalerie when next in Berlin.

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The first painting that met the eye in a large exhibition of Western Paintings from the 14th through 16th centuries at the Gemäldegalerie looked familiar. It was remarkably like Botticelli's Venus arising from the ocean. Indeed, it was one of many studies that he prepared before painting his masterpiece. The figure has the same stance but the two braids hanging down her neck look remarkably like the straps of a dress whereas the final version has windblown tresses. The final version stands at a slight angle giving the impression that she is not standing still but she is in motion stepping ashore from her shell, which has just touched shore. Click on the second painting to see the whole "Birth of Venus."
Girl with a Pearl Necklace.	The same exhibition also contained a good representation of Flemish paintings including two Vermeers (one on the left), two Steens (one on the right), and others by de Hooch, ter Borsch, Aertsen and many more. The two by Jan Steen showed the result of a card game when one player draws his sword and accuses the other of cheating. Friends restrain him and abackgammon board lies on the floor. A second painting on the same idea hung next to this one. I forget the artist who painted the dramatic scene below. If you know, please let me know. Thanks. Mail to: John Graham	Accusations at the Card Game The dog barks and the child screams while the woman restrains the drunken swordsman and others enjoy the moment..
a reclining nude. See also The history of Reclining Nudes.		Giovanni di Busi.
This is only a taste to inspire you to visit the Gemäldegalerie when next in Berlin.