Preferred Spots on Museum Island: Heartfelt Favorites
The Old National Gallery (Alte Nationalgalerie) in Berlin, a treasure trove of 19th-century art, boasts a captivating dome room that serves as a testament to the era's architectural and artistic sensibilities.
Built between 1867 and 1876 by architects Heinrich Strack and August Stüler, the gallery was designed to house an extensive collection of artworks spanning from the French Revolution to the First World War. The building itself embodies the neoclassical and Renaissance revival elements typical of the period, aiming to create a monumental "temple of art."
The dome room, with its blue ceiling adorned with golden stars, stands as a symbolic representation, evoking a celestial or heavenly sphere. This cosmic motif was commonly used in historic European art and architecture to signify eternity, the heavens, and the sublime—themes deeply connected to the art and ideals of the 19th century.
Architecturally, this dome enhances the gallery’s grandeur and elevates the visitor experience by connecting the art with a transcendent spatial atmosphere. Constructed with a light framework and finished with decorative elements, including gilding, the dome room adds visual impact and grandeur, showcasing the importance given to sculptural and ornamental details in the gallery’s interiors.
The Old National Gallery's collection, featuring works by Adolph Menzel, Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, and Auguste Renoir, mirrors the symbolic richness of the dome room. The celestial dome metaphorically crowns an institution dedicated to exploring artistic human achievement and history.
This visual iconography within the dome room underscores the gallery’s role as a custodian of cultural heritage and highlights the 19th-century aspiration to unify art, architecture, and philosophy in a grand cultural narrative.
For Rüdiger Perleberg, a Security Guard on Museum Island for 26 years, the Old National Gallery is more than just a workplace. He views it as a place where young and old come together, a bustling yet calming sanctuary within the city. Stefanie Meisgeier, a Scientific Volunteer at the gallery, shares the same sentiment, captivated by the details and ornamentation in the dome room.
Perleberg, who could write books about his experiences at the Old National Gallery, considers himself an information booth for the visitors, while Meisgeier is always thrilled to be in the dome room, admiring the shell-like elements on the ceiling. For both, the Old National Gallery is a place of personal connection and shared appreciation for the beauty and history it holds.
In summary, the dome room with its blue ceiling and golden stars in the Alte Nationalgalerie in Berlin stands as a historically significant architectural and symbolic feature that reflects the 19th-century artistic spirit and the museum’s role in celebrating art and culture from that era.
The interior-design of the dome room, with its blue ceiling adorned with golden stars, is a testament to the 19th-century's lifestyle and home-and-garden sensibilities, while simultaneously mirroring the symbolic richness of the Old National Gallery's art collection. Stefanie Meisgeier, a Scientific Volunteer at the gallery, is always captivated by the intricate details and ornamentation in the dome room, reflecting the personal connection and shared appreciation for the gallery's beauty and history that many visitors, like herself, share.
