Sanssouci Picture Gallery, Art museum in Sanssouci Park, Potsdam, Germany
The Sanssouci Picture Gallery is a long, single-story yellow building east of Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam, built 1755–64 by Johann Gottfried Büring. Its garden facade has floor-to-ceiling windows framed by 18 marble statues of arts and sciences, and a central dome topped by an eagle fighting a snake. Inside, a single hall with paired columns and a gilded vault leads to a cabinet for small paintings.
The building was constructed from 1755 to 1764 under architect Johann Gottfried Büring by order of Frederick the Great and replaced an earlier greenhouse on the site. The choice to create an art hall here reflected the king's growing interest in displaying his collection publicly.
The collection features paintings by masters like Caravaggio, Rubens, and Van Dyck displayed alongside French statues and classical busts on green walls. The rooms themselves are embellished with gilded ornaments and plasterwork depicting the arts and sciences.
The museum operates from May through October, Tuesday to Sunday, while remaining completely closed during winter months. Visitors should note that hours are limited to the warmer season and advance planning is advised.
The central hall was modelled on the Tribuna of the Uffizi in Florence, with paired columns and a light-bearing dome. The cabinet east of the hall was built for small-format paintings, the so-called Schilderyen. In 2016 the Venus im Pelz from Rubens's circle returned after being missing since 1945 and has hung here again since May 2023.
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