Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister

The origins of the collection trace back to the electors of Saxony, who began assembling a significant art collection in the 16th century. The museum's foundation as a dedicated public institution is closely tied to the expansion of the Zwinger complex in the 18th century under Augustus the Strong, although the specific building for the gallery was not realized until the 19th century. The need for a new central exhibition building for the Saxon court's painting collection emerged in the 1840s, leading to the commissioning of a dedicated structure to house the growing collection which had achieved European fame.

The gallery is located in the Semperbau, a building designed by the renowned architect Gottfried Semper in the style of the Italian High Renaissance. Construction began with the laying of the cornerstone in 1847. Following Semper's exile due to his involvement in the 1848-1849 revolutions, the project was completed by Karl Moritz Haenel and Semper's student Bernhard Krüger, finishing in 1854.

The building measures 127 meters in length and 24 meters in height, forming the architectural closure of the Zwinger complex towards the Theaterplatz and the Elbe river. The facade features sculptural ornaments by Ernst Rietschel (classical antiquity figures on the Theaterplatz side) and Ernst Julius Hähnel (Christian-Western figures on the Zwinger side).

The permanent exhibition features around 700 to 750 paintings, primarily from the 15th to the 18th centuries. The collection is structured by the color of the walls in the exhibition rooms: Italian artworks are displayed in rooms with deep red walls, Dutch and Flemish paintings on green backgrounds, and Spanish and French pictures from the 17th century on blue walls. The gallery also integrates sculptures within the painting galleries to create a dialogue between the two art forms, reflecting the historical concept of the Kunstkammer.

Paintings from the 19th and 20th centuries were moved to a separate building in 1931 due to space constraints.

The Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister has undergone significant historical challenges and restorations. During the bombing of Dresden in February 1945, the building was severely damaged. It was reconstructed in the late 1940s and 1950s, with the gallery reopening to display the Old Masters again.

A comprehensive reconstruction took place from 1988 to 1992. Following a seven-year general renovation and partial closure, the gallery was reopened on February 28, 2020. This recent renovation included a new lighting concept and completely new wall coverings, ensuring the preservation and optimal presentation of the world-renowned collection.

The gallery has faced specific incidents affecting its collection, such as an event on August 4, 1956, where a disturbed individual damaged a painting. Additionally, the separation of the Modern Department in 1931 was a critical administrative decision driven by the shortage of space, allowing the Old Masters to be displayed more effectively in their dedicated building. The integration of the sculpture collection up to 1800 into the same building in the Semperbau further enhances the visitor experience by presenting a comprehensive view of pre-19th-century art.