Dresden State Art Collections

For 450 years, the collections show a unique wealth of works of art by world-class. A total of 15 museums are among the most renowned collections.

The Dresden art collections belong to the most renowned and oldest museum institutions in the world. In the 16th century, they emerged from the aristocratic collections. The Dresden collections received its unique character, which has been valid until today, through the art spirit of two electors: August the Strong (1679-1733, Elector of Saxony since 1694, King of Poland since 1697) and his son August III (1696-1763, Elector and King since 1733).Today, the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden consist of the following museums: the Grünes Gewölbe (Green Vault), the Kupferstich-Kabinett (Collection of Prints, Drawings and Photographs), the Münzkabinett (Coin Cabinet), the Rüstkammer (Armoury), the Staatliche Ethnographischen Sammlungen Sachsen (State Ethnographical Collections) with locations in Dresden, Leipzig and Herrnhut, the Porzellansammlung (Porcelain Collection), the Mathematisch-Physikalischer Salon (Royal Cabinet of Mathematical and Physical Instruments), the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister (Old Masters Picture Gallery), the Skulpturensammlung (Sculpture Collection), the Galerie Neue Meister (New Masters Gallery), the Museum für Sächsische Volkskunst mit Puppentheatersammlung (Museum of Saxon Folk Art with Puppet Theatre Collection) as well as the Kunstgewerbemuseum (Museum of Decorative Arts). Moreover, the Kunstbibliothek (Art Library), the Kunstfonds (Art Fund) and the Gerhard Richter Archiv (Gerhard Richter Archive) are parts of the museum institution.