8 What began as one duke’s passion for art has become a jewel in the crown of Germany’s cultural landscape. Among German museums, the Staatliches Museum Schwerin has always enjoyed an excellent reputation for its remarkable collection of Netherlandish paintings from the 17th century. Just as remarkable among the Old Masters is the group of animal paintings by the 18th-century French painter Jean-Baptiste Oudry, the largest such group worldwide. To this day, to some degree the museum’s holdings retain the encyclopaedic character of a princely collection, for, in addition to paintings, they also encompass outstanding works of decorative art, drawings, prints as well as coins and medals. Since the inauguration of the museum building in the late 19th century, the collection has steadily continued to grow – always with a focus on the art of the day. This allows one to trace the various trends and ‘isms’ of modern art right up to the present time – showcasing, for example, the Schwaan and Ahrenshoop artists’ colonies, which were influenced by Impressionism and Expressionism, and the diverse art scene in the GDR. Art for the Present: History of the Collection and the Museum
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