Alte Pinakothek

The Alte Pinakothek is distinguished by its long, low-slung facade featuring sections of exposed, unrendered brickwork that stand out against the surrounding masonry. Opened in eighteen thirty-six, this museum was commissioned by King Ludwig the First to house the sprawling art collections of the Wittelsbach dynasty. Designed by court architect Leo von Klenze, the building introduced a groundbreaking use of natural skylights in its galleries, a feature that influenced museum construction across Europe and as far away as Saint Petersburg.