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Proud ostrich and furious tiger. Animal bronzes of the 19th century

Masterpieces from the Neue Pinakothek (New Pinacotheca) in the Alte Pinakothek

24.03.2026 - 11.10.2026 ,
Alte Pinakothek (Old Pinacoteca)

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partly accessible
Opening Times
Open today 10:00-18:00
Address
Barer Straße 27
80333 München
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The small exhibition of bronze animal representations shows the development from the pioneers of this genre, the so-called Animaliers Antoine-Louis Barye and Pierre-Jules Mêne, to the main representatives of autonomous animal sculpture such as August Gaul and Fritz Behn. A broad spectrum opens up: while animal sculptures were initially primarily located in the context of ruler symbolism, the depiction of livestock breeds stands for an artistic reorientation and a departure from representative monumental art. Exotic animal species tell of the development of zoological gardens as well as of the multiple entanglements of German colonial history.

Last edited on 06.11.2025

Additional information

Image gallery

Bronze sculpture of an ostrich (opens enlarged image)
August Gaul, Striding Ostrich, 1903 © Bavarian State Painting Collections - Neue Pinakothek (New Pinacotheca), Munich. Photo: Nicole Wilhelms

Associated museum

Museum / Exhibition Centre: Alte Pinakothek (Old Pinacoteca)

The Alte Pinakothek (Old Pinacoteca) has world-class works: Old German painting from the end of the 14th century to the Dürer period (Albrecht Dürer, Mathias Grünewald, Albrecht Altdorfer, Hans...

Location: München