In October 120 years ago, the landmark at the top of Museum Island opened its doors for the first time. To mark the occasion, the Bode Museum is hosting an anniversary celebration on Saturday, 19 October 2024, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with a wide range of activities for the whole family. The special presentation ‘The Baptismal Font of Siena’ will also open in the evening. On the following day, Sunday, 20 October 2024, conservators will provide insights into their work as part of the 7th Restoration Day.
Image above: © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin / Valerie Schmidt
Today’s Bode Museum was built as the Kaiser Friedrich Museum from 1897 to 1904 at the tip of Museum Island. The architect Ernst Eberhard von Ihne placed the three-winged building directly on the banks of the Spree to make the building appear to rise out of the water. Today, the view from the Ebert Bridge to the north side and the large dome of the Bode Museum as well as the television tower in the background is one of the iconic, world-famous views of Berlin.
Sculpture and painting exhibited on an equal footing
The museum’s concept was largely the brainchild of Wilhelm Bode, then Director of the Picture Gallery and Sculpture Collection and later Director General of the Royal Museums in Berlin. In the Kaiser Friedrich Museum, which opened on 18 October 1904, painting and sculpture were presented side by side on an equal footing for the first time. This was joined by the Coin Cabinet with its precious artefacts from antiquity to the present day.
The building was badly damaged during the Second World War and was gradually rebuilt between 1948 and 1986. In 1956, it was given the name it still bears today after its spiritual creator: Bode Museum. After the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, the building underwent extensive renovation and has been open to the public again since 2006.
Today, the building houses the sculpture collection and the Museum of Byzantine Art as well as the Coin Cabinet and selected works from the Picture Gallery at the Kulturforum. The history of the Bode Museum has been presented in the ‘Klartext’ exhibition since 2020.
Anniversary celebration with free admission
To mark the anniversary, the Bode Museum is organising a family day with free admission. On Saturday, 19 October 2024, from 10 am to 6 pm, visitors can look forward to a programme with guided tours in German and English, lectures on the history of the museum, a photo station, workshops on printing and sculpture in the children’s gallery, a search for clues through the museum and many other activities.
Conservators provide insights into their work
On the following day, Sunday 20 October 2024, the 7th European Restoration Day will take place. Conservators from various collections on Museum Island will give exclusive insights into their demanding work. You can also take part in guided tours of the Bode Museum and take a look behind the scenes in the restoration workshops.
Participation fee incl. admission: 15 €
Limited number of participants
Remaining tickets can be purchased at the box office.
Online booking and information at www.smb.museum/restaurierung2024
Donatello’s putto and the baptismal font of Siena
Also from 20 October 2024, the crypt in the basement of the Bode-Museum will host the new special presentation ‘The Baptismal Font of Siena. History, restoration and re-erection of a plaster model ‘ for visitors. Two objects form the exhibits of this special exhibition: the bronze statuette ‘Putto with Tambourine’ by Donatello from the sculpture collection and the plaster model of the baptismal font of Siena, which is over five metres high and was created in the workshop of the plaster moulding shop in 1876. Both are linked to the history of the Bode Museum and the person of Wilhelm Bode.
In the 1910s and 1920s, all the ground floor rooms on the Kupfergraben side of the former Kaiser Friedrich Museum were filled with casts of Italian Renaissance sculptures. Today, the once so important plaster casts of the sculpture collection – including another cast of the baptismal font – are stored in the depot, while the plaster moulding shop still produces casts from the historical moulds. With the plaster model, this forgotten collection is symbolically returning to the Bode Museum.
The putto was once part of the original baptismal font in the Baptistery of San Giovanni in Siena, but has been missing there since the 17th century. Wilhelm Bode discovered it on the London art market in 1901 and it has been part of the sculpture collection since 1902
The anniversary celebration is supported by the Kaiser Friedrich Museumsverein and the Numismatische Gesellschaft zu Berlin 1843 e.V. The presentation and publication of ‘Das Taufbecken von Siena’ were made possible and sponsored by the Ernst von Siemens Kunststiftung, the Kaiser Friedrich Museumsverein and Museum&Location.
WHEN?
Events 120 years of the Bode Museum:
Anniversary celebration: Saturday, 19 October 2024
Restoration tour: Sunday, 20 October 2024
WHERE?
Bode Museum
Am Kupfergraben 3
10178 Berlin
COST?
Anniversary celebration: Saturday, 19 October 2024, free admission for families
Restoration tour: Sunday, 20 October 2024, participation fee incl. admission: 15 €
