I visited this interesting art museum one day while I was living in Munich last summer. The city’s riches are almost impossible to comprehend. The Schack-galerie is one of the noted galleries in this city and is under supervision of the Bavarian State Picture Collection.

Here’s Schack himself. Adolf Friedrich, Graf von Schack (1815 – 1894) was a German poet, historian of literature, and art collector.

Schack was born at Brüsewitz near Schwerin. Having studied jurisprudence (1834–1838) at the universities of Bonn, Heidelberg and Berlin, he entered the Mecklenburg state service and was subsequently attached to the Kammergericht in Berlin. Tiring of official work, he resigned his appointment, and after travelling in Italy, Egypt, and Spain, was attached to the court of the grand duke of Oldenburg, whom he accompanied on a journey to the East. On his return, he entered the Oldenburg government service, and in 1849 was sent as envoy to Berlin. In 1852, he retired from his diplomatic post, resided for a while on his estates in Mecklenburg and then travelled in Spain, where he studied Moorish history.

In 1855, he settled at Munich, where he was made member of the academy of sciences, and here collected a splendid gallery of pictures, containing masterpieces of Bonaventura Genelli, Anselm Feuerbach, Moritz von Schwind, Arnold Böcklin, Franz von Lenbach, etc., and which, though bequeathed by him to the Emperor William II, still remains at Munich and is one of the noted galleries in that city. He died at Rome in April 1894, aged 78. Upon his death in 1894, he bequeathed the collection to the Emperor William II, however it remained in Munich.

The collection is housed in a building designed by Max Littmann (1907) next to the former diplomatic mission of Prussia in the Prinzregentenstraße as the emperor decided to keep the collection in Munich. The gallery building with its upper-level portico and the adjacent tract of the former Prussian embassy, appear as two independent building complexes, but are unified by a common base and cornice. The façades of the buildings are built with bright sandstone. In the tympanium is an imperial coat of arms and a dedication by William II.

I found the museum interesting if not completely to my taste. But, the highlight of the experience for me was discovering this portrait of the Danish sculptor, Bertel Thorvaldsen. I once studied Thorvaldsen quite extensively and made a trip to Denmark to further those studies. I didn’t expect to see him in Munich!

International day of mourning.

Are you ready to get back into the heart of the cultural life of Munich? I have given you a respite from art, art, art for the past few posts. I’m hankering to get back into it. Andiamo! Let’s go!

Perhaps the first major impression I had of Munich was this monumental church. And for good reason: With its yellow facade and ornate interior, the Theatinerkirche (Theatine Church) at Odeonsplatz is one of the most beautiful churches in Munich. I emerged from the subway station at Odeonplatz and was blinded by the sunshine and this bright yellow building.

In the mid-17th century, to commemorate the birth of Max Emanuel, the long-awaited heir, Elector Ferdinand Maria and his wife Henriette Adelaide commissioned architects from Italy to build the “most beautiful and precious church.”

Taking their inspiration from the church of Sant’Andrea della Valle in Rome, Agostino Barelli, Antonio Spinelli built the Theatinerkirche, the first religious building north of the Alps to be designed in the Late Baroque style from Italy.

Enrico Zuccalli was subsequently employed to add two 66 meters high towers, and then finished the 71-metre-high (233 ft) dome in 1690. The church is 72 metres (236 ft) long and 15.5 metres (51 ft) wide. The facade in Rococo style was completed only in 1768 by François de Cuvilliés. Its Mediterranean appearance and yellow coloring became a well known symbol for the city and had much influence on Southern German Baroque architecture. The sculptors Roman Anton Boos and Ignaz Günther built the figures and decorative elements on the facade.

The white interior is as striking in its lightness as the facade is for its saturated color.

The bleached interior is wonderfully cool and forms a striking contrast to the brighter ochre yellow of the facade.

The official name of the church is St. Kajetan: in addition to its function as court church, the church also served as a religious church for the Theatine monks.

Like the Theatinerkiche, the neighbouring Feldherrnhalle was built in the Italian style (emulating the Loggia di Lanzi of Florence). The southern part of the famed Odeonplatz is therefore often referred to as a “piece of Italy in Munich”.

More is more during the Baroque and this church has a degree of decoration that proves the theory.

The Electors’ burial chamber is the resting place of members of the House of Wittelsbach, including the two founders Henriette Adelaide and Ferdinand Maria and their son Max Emanuel.

Of course I lit some candles for souls that are departed yet dear to me. This is yet another building that is not to be missed on a trip to Munich.

If you like an elegant formal garden that’s not so big as to be un walkable (and really, who doesn’t?!) you’ll love the Hofgarten by the Royal Residence in Munich.

It’s been a subject for paintings by many eminent artists. For example, Max Stern painted it. Stern was a German painter and graphic artist of Jewish ancestry and this is his Hofgarten in early spring.

After days of cold and rain, yesterday was mild and somewhat sunny in Munich. It went from high summer to fall here overnight. The Hofgarten called to me for one last spin before I leave town later this week.

That’s the beautiful little Temple to Diana in the round.

Below is a view of the striking Theatinerkirche with its distinctive black colored domes as seen from inside the Diana Temple.

Bitte MÜNCHEN! I will miss you.

I’ve been in Chicago since October 9, working on, submitting, and waiting for the Visa. I’m very discouraged. This picture summarizes my state of mind.

I’m going to continue hanging on. I hope I can maintain a shred of sanity. Wish me luck!

A gorgeous day in Chicago on November 1 with friends! The recipe for a perfect time.

Two good friends from the days of high school! Last time we were together was in Florence just a few years ago. We like to meet in gorgeous places! Haha!

We’ve spent a lot of time reminiscing about people we enjoyed when we were teenagers and back in South Dakota where we grew up. In particular today I want to mention lovely Laura Karim, whom we both adored. You are missed, dear Laura; rest in peace.

Below, a lovely day for a photo shoot of a quinceañera! Age 15 and spectacular.

What I noticed first of all was the way the trees are cut. I have never seen this outside of Paris. And funnily enough, the last time I was in Paris in the Tuileries, near trees cut like this, I saw a photo shoot of another quinceañera! That young lady was dressed in pink to match the pink blossoms of the flowering fruit trees. It’s always a fun spectacle.

And one shot of Cindy and me inside the fiber exhibit at the garden. Cindy is herself a fiber artist and I really enjoyed viewing the exhibition through her eyes. We saw some fantastic works! Thanks Cindy and Ervin for a fabulous day! I’m so grateful to you for coming to Chicago to see me on this extended layover! Rabbit rabbit!

A beautiful tablenacle in the hills above Florence.

A tabernacle in the hills just outside Florence.

Local flavor! Love the first pic the most!