Grünes Gewölbe: Admired, collected, and put on display

Jakob Hoffmann, Bildnis des Thomas Schweicker, 1595

Admired, collected, and put on display

Disability in Baroque and contemporary art

Princely collectors were very interested in rare natural treasures, valuable works of art, and famous people. This was reflected in many ways in the art collections of the early modern period. An exhibition in the Neues Grünes Gewölbe in Dresden tells the stories of people with disabilities who can be seen in paintings from the past. The ways they were depicted in paintings and other works of art give an impression of how disability was viewed in the 16th to 18 th centuries.

Exhibition Site Residenzschloss

DATES 31/10/2024—03/03/2025

Opening Hours daily 10—18, Tuesday closed Friday 10—20 (Blue Hour 18—20) 24/12/2024 10—14 (Christmas Eve) 25/12/2024 10—18 (1. Weihnachtstag) 26/12/2024 10—18 (2. Weihnachtstag) 31/12/2024 10—16 (New Year's Eve) 01/01/2025 12—18 (New Year)
03/02/2025 — 14/02/2025 closed
Please note that the museums in the Royal Palace (Grünes Gewölbe, Kupferstich-Kabinett, Münzkabinett, Rüstkammer) will be closed from 03.02. – 14.02.2025.
The Historic Green Vault will be closed from 20.01. - 14.02.2025.

Admission Fees normal 14 €, reduced 10,50 €, under 17 free, Groups (10 persons and more) 12,50 €

Book online

One important exhibit is the painting by Thomas Schweicker from Schwäbisch Hall. He was very famous in the late 16th century because he could write skilfully with his feet. His portrait was even exhibited in the Dresden Kunstkammer. At many European courts, there were people of unusually short height who were known as ‘court dwarfs’. They had a special position and were well paid. But people with restricted growth were also the target of ridicule and were often marginalised. This can also be seen in the works of art.

Disabilities can also arise at any stage in life, for example when people are injured in wars. This exhibition shows how people dealt with such injuries and what aids were invented
to make everyday life easier for them.

**Schwedischer Grenadier mit Stelzfuß, Dresden, wohl 1709-1725**

As well as showing examples from the past, the exhibition also makes connections with the present day. The artists Eric Beier, Eva Jünger, Steven Solbrig and Dirk Sorge address current issues relating to the topic and present their ideas.