Schnütgen Museum

The Schnütgen Museum (Museum Schnütgen in German) in Cologne (Köln), Germany is devoted to Christian religious art, mainly medieval, but some parts of the collection, such as its textiles and prints, extend from antiquity to the modern period. In 1906, the collection of Alexander Schnütgen was donated to the city, and the collection has continued to expand, so that until the opening of a new building, scheduled for 2009, only about 10% of its 13,000 items could be displayed. Schnütgen (1843–1918) was a Catholic priest and theologian; according to the museum website "Up to now people tell stories about his zealous and sometimes crafty collection tactics".

Since 1956, the museum has occupied the large Romanesque church of Saint Cecilia, founded in 881 for noble canonesses, with the present building dating from 1130–60, with murals from about 1300. This will remain part of the museum after completion of the new buildings. Highlights of the collection include a Romanesque tympanum from St Cecilia's itself, several large wooden crucifixes, including the 11th century Cross of St George's, as well as a large collection of early bronze ones, including the only other work generally attributed to Rainer of Huy apart from his Liège baptismal font. The museum has a late Carolingian evangeliary of 860–880, and a single leaf from the English St Albans Psalter. The "Comb of St Heribert" is a 9th century ivory liturgical comb, and the "Harrach Diptych" a Carolingian ivory of about 810 (on loan from the Lugwig collection). Ivories, stained glass, textiles including vestments, metalwork and paintings are all well represented.

Alexander Schnütgen had organised influential exhibitions of his collection while it was still private, and from the 1970s the museum (using extra exhibition spaces) organized a series of landmark exhibitions of medieval art: Rhein und Maas (1972, Mosan art), Monumenta Annonis – Köln und Siegburg. Weltbild und Kunst im hohen Mittelalter (1975), Die Parler und der schöne Stil 1350–1400. Europäische Kunst unter den Luxemburgern (1978), Ornamenta Ecclesia – Kunst und Künstler der Romanik (1985, Romanesque metalwork and other church art) and Himmelslicht. Europäische Glasmalerei im Jahrhundert des Kölner Dombaus (1248–1349) (1998, stained glass). The enormous catalogues for the exhibitions, some running to three volumes, remain important works of reference. Catalogues of the permanent collection of the museum are being published in several volumes.

Notes

References

Further reading

  • Netzer, Nancy; Reinburg, Virginia, Fragmented devotion: medieval objects from the Schnütgen Museum, Cologne (catalogue of exhibition), McMullen Museum of Art, Boston College, 2000, ISBN 189285001X, 9781892850010,
Listed in the following categories:
Post a comment
Tips & Hints
Arrange By:
Eva B
28 October 2013
Compared to the rauthenstrauch-joest museum it's not that spectacular and smaller, too, though it's the same price.
Dein NRW
21 August 2015
In der romanischen Cäcilienkirche in Köln zeigt das Museum Schnütgen hochkarätige mittelalterliche Kunstwerke in ihrer spirituellen Ausstrahlung und Schönheit. #Kunstpilgern
Kulturkenner
5 February 2013
Das Museum Schnütgen präsentiert mittelalterliche Kunst: Bronze-, Goldschmiedearbeiten, Skulpturen, Textilien, Handschriften, Glasmalereien.http://kulturkenner.de/pages/cultural-quarter-at-neumarkt--2
Anke von Heyl
3 August 2011
Die Studiensammlung lohnt sich besonders - dort kann man sich auch Faksimiles von wunderschönen Handschriften vorlegen lassen.
Molotov Cupcake
6 January 2024
Museum für christliche Kunst. Die meisten Exponate entstanden im Mittelalter zwischen dem 11. und 15. Jahrhundert im Rheinland. Fand ich jetzt nicht so spannend...
Molotov Cupcake
6 January 2024
Zwei Cherubim - manche Ausstellungsstücke finde ich beinahe grotesk.
Load more comments
foursquare.com
5.9/10
463 people have been here
Map
Cäcilienstraße 31, 50667 Köln, Germany Get directions
Tue-Wed-Fri-Sun 10:00 AM–6:00 PM
Thu 10:00 AM–8:00 PM

Museum Schnütgen on Foursquare

Schnütgen Museum on Facebook

Hotels nearby

See all hotels See all
Romantik Hotel im Wasserturm

starting $179

Mauritius Hotel & Therme

starting $88

Hotel Altera Pars

starting $98

Holiday Inn Express Cologne - City Centre

starting $114

Centro Hotel Ariane

starting $208

Adagio Koln City Aparthotel

starting $462

Recommended sights nearby

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Cologne Opera

The Cologne Opera (German: Oper der Stadt Köln or Oper Köln) refers b

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Kolumba

The Kolumba (previously Diözesanmuseum, 'Diocesan Museum') is an art

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Basilica of the Holy Apostles, Cologne

The Basilica of the Holy Apostles (Basilika St. Aposteln) is a

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Hohe Straße

Hohe Straße is a shopping street in the old town of Cologne, Germany,

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
St. Maria im Kapitol

St. Maria im Kapitol (St. Mary's in the Capitol) is an 11th century

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Gloria-Theater (Cologne)

The Gloria-Theater is a multi-purpose theatre and event space,

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Fragrance museum

The Farina fragrance museum is situated across from the town-hall, and

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Wallraf-Richartz Museum

The Wallraf-Richartz Museum is one of the three major museums in

Similar tourist attractions

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Museo Nacional de Arte

The Museo Nacional de Arte (MUNAL) (English. National Museum of Art)

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Philadelphia Museum of Art

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is among the largest art museums in the

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
The Cloisters

The Cloisters is the branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
James Simon Gallery

The James Simon Gallery will be a new, centrally located visitor

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Tokyo National Museum

The Tokyo National Museum (東京国立博物館, Tōkyō Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan),

See all similar places