The newly acquired work, Mary as Queen of Heaven, will be unveiled to the public starting June 5 as part of the exhibition How Pictures Tell Stories: From Albrecht Altdorfer to Peter Paul Rubens.
Significant Cultural Investment Backed by Philanthropic Collaboration
The acquisition was made possible through the coordinated efforts of multiple philanthropic partners, including the Pesl Foundation, the Ernst von Siemens Art Foundation, and the Friends of the Pinakothek Association. The Bavarian State Painting Collections secured the painting for a substantial mid-seven-figure sum—an extraordinary purchase reflecting both the scarcity and the artistic value of Baldung’s privately held works.
Measuring just 35 by 25.5 centimeters, the intimate devotional image depicts the Virgin Mary nursing the infant Christ. Its tender, human portrayal stands out in Baldung’s oeuvre and is regarded as a rare example of emotional nuance in early German Renaissance painting.
New Partnership to Boost Museum Acquisitions
The acquisition also initiates a new cultural funding initiative with the Pesl Foundation. This partnership is set to enable future purchases for the Alte and Neue Pinakothek as well as the Bavarian National Museum. Amid rapidly rising art market prices, the collaboration is expected to provide public institutions with the financial leverage needed to obtain key historical works that would otherwise remain out of reach.
Leaders Celebrate Artistic Milestone for Bavaria
Bavaria’s Minister of Art, Markus Blume, welcomed the painting as a major cultural enrichment, calling it “a celestial gain for the Free State.” He also recognized the longstanding contributions of Maja and Rudolf Pesl, whose quiet yet impactful support has played a vital role in shaping Munich’s art scene.
Anton Biebl, acting director of the Bavarian State Painting Collections, emphasized the strategic significance of the acquisition: “The opportunity to acquire a work of such rarity and excellence is exceptional. The new partnership ensures we can respond to future opportunities in the international art market with agility and foresight.”
Hans Baldung Grien’s Legacy Reaffirmed in Munich
Hans Baldung Grien, born around 1484/85 in Schwäbisch Gmünd, trained in the workshop of Albrecht Dürer in Nuremberg before establishing himself as an independent master in Strasbourg in 1509. Though known as a Dürer disciple, Baldung developed a unique style characterized by expressive figures and symbolic complexity. The origin of his nickname “Grien” remains uncertain, though it is often linked to the color green.
His body of work ranges from small-scale devotional paintings and religious altarpieces to allegorical and mythological scenes, making him one of the most distinctive voices of his time. With this latest acquisition, the Alte Pinakothek not only enhances its collection but also affirms Munich’s role as a leading center for Renaissance art appreciation and scholarship.
Latest Posts
