art. airconditioned.

So yesterday I took a walk over to the Gemaeldegallerie – a massive collection of European art from the 13th through the 18th centuries. The collection was so vast that it was a little overwhelming. There was so much of what I love. Fra Angelico! Fra Fillippo Lippi! Botticelli! Giotto! Holbein! Maes! And not just one work, usually 10 by each painter. The gallery clearly did their best to try to arrange everything in a manageable way, but I still sort of stumbled around in a daze.

A few picture really struck me, though. This is a portrait of Giuliano de Medici by Botticelli. The expression is so lifelike. It was the first picture I saw when I entered the gallery. It grabs the attention – not sure a digital image can convey the same effect.

This Rembrandt depiction of Samson knocking on his father –in-law’s door to try to get back his Philistine wife has an interesting story. Apparently, it was taken to France as the spoils of war and Napoleon liked it so much he had it hung in his private study.

This portrait of a tradesman named Georg Gisze by Holbein is absolutely fantastic, imho. The fabric of the sleeves is so well done. Apparently the flowers in the vase are symbols of faithfulness - this portrait was made for the tradesman’s betrothed.

I was transfixed by this beautiful Maria and child by Andrea Mantegna. I think the expression on her face and the gestures of her hands perfectly capture a mother’s concerns for her child’s future.

Well, these are just a few of my personal highlights, but, really, you should just come visit this amazing museum for yourself.

More Berlin stuff soon. Tonight I'm going to an expatriate party.