Collections in the Altes Museum
Just as today, the Collection of Classical Antiquities of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin will be presented at the Altes Museum in the future. The newly arranged exhibition of Greek art has been shown on the main floor since 2011. It also features the sculptures from the Collection of Classical Antiquities, which were formerly on show in the Pergamonmuseum. On the upper floor, an exquisite selection of Etruscan and Roman art has been exhibited since 2010.
When the Altes Museum opened in 1830, it was intended for “all collections of art.” The works exhibited came from the Collection of Classical Antiquities, the Old Master Paintings, and the Numismatic Collection. From 1904 onward the museum housed only the Collection of Classical Antiquities. From 1966 onward it was used as a museum of contemporary art of the GDR.
In the wake of reunification, the Collection of Classical Antiquities gradually began to move back to the Altes Museum. With the “Antiquarium,” the minor arts collection of the Collection of Classical Antiquities returned to the historical site from their separate locations in Charlottenburg and the Pergamonmuseum in 1998. Many widely acclaimed special exhibitions have been presented on the upper floor of the Altes Museum. Additionally, the Egyptian Museum and Papyrus Collection including the bust of Nefertiti was exhibited there during an interim period from 2005 to 2009.