The Bremen Art Museum is very popular as well as renowned due to its diverse exhibitions. It is the only museum in Germany featuring an extensive art collection from the 14th to the 21st century that is still privately owned. Senator Hieronymus Klugkist in collaboration with 34 merchants interested in art founded the Bremen artist association in 1824 with the goal to “expand and educate the sense for beautiful things”, whereas they wanted to limit it to educational art. Initially there were only 50 members, but later on the numbers went up to 575 in three years. Today the art association numbers 7500 members.After pouring the foundation in July of 1847, due to the assistance from numerous “donations” the association was able to open the art gallery designed and constructed by Lüder Rutenberg on May 1, 1849. In 1902, Albert Dunkel (interior) and Eduard Gildemeister (monumental sandstone-facade) completed the expansion in approx. 2 years.Due to the fear of air attacks, the art gallery was temporarily closed during the World War II. The paintings were stored in the cellar, which had been converted to a bunker. During the night of September 5, 1942 the art gallery was hit by a firebomb, which destroyed the staircase and six exhibition halls in addition to the painting by Emanuel Leutze – Washington’s Passage over the Delaware. American troops took over the Amerika-Haus (American House) in the art gallery in 1947/48 and occupied the “Kupferstichkabinett “ (prints and drawing museum) and the director’s office and therefore it was not easy for the museum to resume operation. At the art association’s 125th anniversary in 1948, 10 rooms on the upper floor were returned to the public, at the end of 1951, all rooms on the upper floor were ready for use.Between 1996 and 1998 the major renovation of the art gallery was resumed, thanks to private donors (3 million German Marks) who donated about a half of total costs. The City of Bremen and the “Stiftung Wohnliche Stadt “ ( liveable city foundation) financed the remaining amount. The exhibition halls were in poor condition, the lighting did not meet the requirements and the climate values did not meet the international standard.The art gallery was upgraded in the summer of 2011, expanded by two wings, and was reopened after 2 years of renovations. Most definitely worth a visit!
Photo Kunsthalle-HB 20110824 img-01 by Verograph is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0