Impressive exhibition by Leo von Klenze - architect, artist, archaeologist - housed in Munich's Stadtmuseum
The life and work of Leo von Klenze (1784-1864) are now the subject of the first major exhibition devoted to him, organized by the Architecture Museum of the Technical University and the Stadtmuseum, Munich. Plans, sketches and architectural models as well as paintings, sculptures and furniture designs reveal the versatility of Klenze, who was not only Germany’s foremost architect and city planner in the 19th century, but also a distinguished artist, designer, archaeologist, engineer and diplomat his career was inextricably linked to the Bavarian king Ludwig I. In 1816, while still a crown prince, Ludwig summoned Klenze to Munich to help him establish the Bavarian capital as a city of cultural and architectural preeminence. Over the next decades, Klenze, in his position as Court Architect, played a key role in shaping the “New Munich.” Among his masterpieces are the Glyptothek (a replica of a Greek temple, which houses antique sculptures), Ludwigstrasse (a monumental avenue connecting Odeonsplatz with the district of Schwabing, which is lined with italianate mansions) and the Alte Pinakothek museum (a majestic Neo-Renaissance structure that won Klenze international acclaim). The exhibition follows Klenze on his travels, exploring his architectural ideals of ancient Greece, and examines his role as a shaper of Bavarian cultural affairs and as a progressive engineer employing the latest technology. Leo von Klenze, Stadtmuseum, May 5–Sept. 3, Tues.-Sun. 10–18.