As an Art History major, my main goal during our stay in Colmar France was to see two famous works of art; The Isenheim Altarpiece by Matthias Grunewald and the Madonna in The Rose Garden (also called Madonna at the Rose Bush) by Martin Schongauer, which are both located in the Unterlinden Museum in the medieval historic center of Colmar. I had dreamed of seeing these paintings for many, many, years and it was well worth the wait.
The museum, which is housed in a beautiful 13th-century Dominican convent, was established in 1849, using convent buildings abandoned following the French Revolution. The buildings had been saved by the Societé Schongauer and then bequeathed to the museum by the municipality. In 1852, The Isenheim Altarpiece was installed along with many other large altarpieces from former Colmar churches, abbeys and monasteries. It was the beginning of a remarkable collection.
The Unterlinden Museum currently spreads out over three levels in a large complex of buildings. The city of Colmar is currently working to transform an Art Nouveau former baths building, into an annex of the museum, which will be open by Autumn of 2015.
I can only thank my lucky stars that even with the renovation and expansion the museum is undergoing, we were able to view the paintings I had dreamed of seeing. During the renovation the Dominican chapel remains open and houses a temporary exhibit. The chapel is located about 200 meters from the rest of the Musée Unterlinden complex.
The museum is one of France’s greatest museums and we will have to come back to see the decorative arts, military weapons, gold and silver treasures, ancient archeology and impressive modern art collection when it re-opens in its entirety. It is going to be even more fabulous than before.
I can only thank my lucky stars that even with the renovation and expansion the museum is undergoing, we were able to view the paintings I had dreamed of seeing. During the renovation the Dominican chapel remains open and houses a temporary exhibit. The chapel is located about 200 meters from the rest of the Musée Unterlinden complex.
The museum is one of France’s greatest museums and we will have to come back to see the decorative arts, military weapons, gold and silver treasures, ancient archeology and impressive modern art collection when it re-opens in its entirety. It is going to be even more fabulous than before.
This temporary location offers an exceptional and unprecedented opportunity for the museum to present, alongside the monumental masterwork of Grünewald and Haguenau, The Isenheim Altarpiece, all three painted works by the Colmar native Martin Schongauer still located in Colmar: the Orlier Altarpiece (1470–1475), the Altarpiece of the Dominicans (c. 1480) and the Virgin at the Rose Bush (1473).
The altarpiece depicting Saint Catherine and Saint Lawrence (c. 1510) and sculptures from the Late Middle Ages round out the presentation. An audioguide is available to give you an in-depth self-tour of these amazing artworks.
The altarpiece depicting Saint Catherine and Saint Lawrence (c. 1510) and sculptures from the Late Middle Ages round out the presentation. An audioguide is available to give you an in-depth self-tour of these amazing artworks.
Below: The Isenheim Altarpiece (1512-1516) Grünewald and Haguenau
Below: The Altarpiece Virgin at the Rose Bush (1473) Martin Schongauer
Below: Orlier Altarpiece (1470–1475) Martin Schongauer
Below: Altarpiece of the Dominicans (c. 1480) Martin Schongauer
Sculpture
The chapel was packed with fabulous art, (and a few too many tourists in one small area for my taste), but if you take your time and stand right in front of each work of art, tuning out the other visitors, you can absolutely experience that thrill that a great art masterpiece can give you. Musee Unterlinden is an experience you absolutely shouldn’t miss!
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