Leseprobe

5 Collecting on a scale of this magnitude was only possible because the Elec- torate of Saxony was one of the wealthiest regions in the Holy Roman Empire. Rich reserves of valuable ores and minerals, a location at the crossing point of two important cross-continental trade routes of Europe, as well as, from the 18th century, certain highly developed manufactories, most notably of porcelain, con- tributed to the country’s continuing prosperity. Reorganization of the Collections under Augustus the Strong In 1707 Augustus the Strong had the painting collection splintered off from the overall holdings of the Royal Collections, with the best paintings going on show in their own exhibition room in the palace. They were subsequently transferred in 1718 to the Redoutensaal (ball room), before making their way to the Riesensaal, or ‘Giant Gallery’, and adjacent rooms in 1726. The other objects in the Kunstkammer now formed the foundations of Dresden’s other famous collections, such as the Grünes Gewölbe (Green Vault), the Porzellansammlung, the Kupferstich-Kabinett with its drawings and prints, the Mathematisch-Physikalischer Salon with its his- torical scientific instruments and timepieces, and the Skulpturensammlung. For as early as 1717, Augustus the Strong, presumably inspired by impressions gained on his travels, had drawn up a ‘functional sketch’ for the division of the collection. 4 The display criteria were now the collection items themselves and no longer histor- ical classification or authorship. Subsequently, the ancient marbles were assigned to the collection of modern sculptures, and Chinese and Japanese porcelain was merged with the newly produced, precious Meissen wares. 5 Augustus the Strong, sketch for an ideal museum building, c. 1717 Sächsisches Staatsarchiv – Hauptstaatsarchiv Dresden