Course

During the intensive and stimulating seven-day course, the participants will explore the city of Dresden, its great monuments and its museums. The main theme is the study of the collections in a context that covers the princely attitudes of the Saxonian rulers during the late Renaissance, the magnificent royal patronage and representation that flowered especially in the 18th century Augustan Age, and the monarchy in 19th century bourgeois society.

These collections are presented in the beautiful royal palaces in and around Dresden where their meaning and importance will be studied in the original surroundings. The contemporary, highly active role of the Dresden museums and their collections will welcome the participants everywhere in the vibrant and innovative atmosphere that pervades the cultural life of this city.
The program will include visits to the world-famous museums Grünes Gewölbe (Green Vault), founded by King August II, “The Strong”, in 1723 and filled with the exceptional treasures collected by himself and his ancestors, all placed in a baroque setting.

In the Rüstkammer (Armoury) one focus will be on the Türckische Cammer (Turkish Chamber), one of the oldest and most important collections of Ottoman art. In the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister (Old Masters Gallery), the Academy will study the role of the great collector King August III who founded the Gallery and enriched it with paintings of exceptional quality. Works of the great painters of the 19th century, such as Caspar David Friedrich, will be studied in the Galerie Neue Meister (New Masters Gallery). Experts of the Kupferstich-Kabinett (Cabinet of Prints and Drawings), will show a special selection of important drawings and prints from its celebrated collections and discuss them with the students.

The magnificent Zwinger, houses in its richly decorated pavilions the  Porzellansammlung (Porcelain Collection) that enables the Academy to study exceptional and exquisite pieces of Asiatic and Meissen porcelain of the highest quality. In the Albertinum, the Skulpurensammlung (Sculpture Collection) shows masterpieces of modern sculptures. The study depot, featuring the important collections of Middle-eastern, Greek and Roman antiquities, will be also visited and discussed.

A day will be devoted to visit Schloss Pillnitz with its park and gardens, once the beautiful summer palace of August the Strong and his successors. Here, in the Kunstgewerbemuseum (Museum of Decorative Arts), the high quality of the decorative arts in Dresden and their innovative role in the early 20th century, will be studied.

In addition to this program, the participants will visit a number of important buildings in the historic centre of Dresden, such as the Frauenkirche, Hofkirche, Zwinger, and the Japanische Palais. There will be excursions to interesting places around Dresden such as Schloss Moritzburg and the Sandsteingebirge with its beautiful and typical landscape that inspired Caspar David Friedrich.

The participants will be offered a special viewing of the grand restoration project of the Residenzschloss in Dresden, with a tour through the work-in-progress.