Andreas Henning Livres

Many of the exhibited works are among Europe’s major paintings from the Renaissance to the end of the 18th century. The beginnings of the Gemäldegalerie can be traced back to the Saxon electors’ Kunstkammer, founded in 1560. Through extensive purchases, August III was able to make it into a unique collection. The inventory of Italian Renaissance paintings is exceptional, including Raphal’s “Sistine Madonna,” Giorgione’s “Sleeping Venus” and Titian’s “The Tribute Money.” Dutch and Flemish painting of the 17th century, by artists such as Rembrandt, Vermeer, Ruben and van Dyck, are another focus of the collection. Spanish, French and German paintings are also among the museum’s art treasures.

The book serves as a companion to the exhibition "Jean de Jullienne: Collector & Connoisseur," highlighting the life and contributions of Jean de Jullienne within the context of Watteau and his artistic circle. It explores Jullienne's role as a collector and connoisseur, showcasing his influence on the art world and the significance of his collection. The exhibition, held at the Wallace Collection in London, provides insights into the artistic connections and cultural context of the 18th century.

International audiences know Slawomir Elsner (b. Wodzislaw Slaski, Poland, 1976; lives and works in Berlin) for his naturalistic paintings and abstract watercolors, but it was his brilliantly executed colorful drawings that made him famous. The technique of his work in crayons is as formidable as it is singular and underlies his many adaptations of legendary works from the history of painting. Do pictures represent reality or distort it? That is the question that guides his inquiries. Many of the works frame accidents, wars, nuclear tests, or other horrible events. By harnessing the means of art to detach their depiction from a documentary setting, Elsner achieves an unrivaled degree of aestheticization; his works are fascinating at first glance, only to fill the beholder with a creeping dread.

The Sistine Madonna is one of the most famous works of art in the world. Even those unfamiliar with the painting will recognise the two little angels at the bottom, who are so widely loved and have so frequently been copied. The cherubs and many other figures are highlighted in this booklet, offering a complete view of the Sistine Madonna and its eventful history, from its origins in the Italian Renaissance to its status as a global icon.

La Madonna Sistina è una delle opere più celebri di tutti i tempi. Anche chi non sa nulla di questo dipinto di grande formato conosce i due angioletti sul bordo inferiore del dipinto, amati e copiati innumerevoli volte in tutto il mondo. Questa guida parla di loro e di tanti altri personaggi indimenticabili, ma soprattutto del lungo percorso della Madonna Sistina dalle sue origini nella Roma del Rinascimento fino ai vertici di un mito universale.