Visited: April 2016

by Ulli Kotanko

Accessing the staircase to the main entrance of the Städel Museum

About the museum

Frankfurt is not only known for one of the biggest and busiest airports in Europe and for the European Central Bank (EZB), but also for its culture, literature and art.

On my last visit to Frankfurt I had the opportunity to visit the Städel Museum - the oldest museum foundation in Germany, dating back to 1815.

Spanning a time period of over seven hundred years of European Art, from the fourteenth century to the present, its collection focuses on the Renaissance, Baroque, to early Modern Art and beyond.

Showcasing paintings, sculptures, photographs, drawings and prints by artists like Dürer, Botticelli, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Monet, Picasso Kirchner, Beckmann and many more, this collection offers a comprehensive survey of Western art history.

Entrance

Located on the embankment of the river Main, on the so called "Museumsufer", it shares the river bank with many other museums: Museum of Architecture, Museum of Archaeology, and Children's' Museum, to name a few. For more museums, seeMuseumsufer. 

Accessing the museum by a flight of stairs you enter a small foyer with the admission desk on the near left, a locker room to the far left, and the Museum Shop and Café to the right of the entrance.

At the ticket counter, I was informed that the museum does not offer large print folders or maps of the museum, and that there are no verbal description group tours available for VIPs (Visually Impaired Persons). There is, however, a program for VIPs on a quarterly basis or by appointment.

I was offered an audio guide for a small fee. I had to fetch it from what seemed a hidden spot - down several steps.

Being short of time I did not visit the current exhibition on view, but focused on the permanent collection and some of the highlights.

The galleries are well lit and spacious. Even though it was a Saturday afternoon, they were not too crowded.

Directory to the different galleries - also in English

Labels, Audio Guide and App

I asked myself: will I be able to read the labels?

The labels are big and use the color of the wall for background. The print is mostly in a contrasting color. I personally could not read the labels because the font was too small for me. However, at the bottom of the labels there is a big symbol and a number for the audio guide and the smartphone app.

There is an app, and I recommend downloading it to familiarize yourself with it before you visit the museum - it is worthwhile to do so! You can access the artwork by scan-recognition: you simply point the camera on your phone at the artwork, it scans the painting and delivers the accompanying audio guide to your screen. You will find a symbol for the app on the left bottom corner of the label. This system works very well and is best in combination with the audio guide.

The audio guide is easy to handle. It has raised, lit buttons with white numbers on a black background. The number for the audio guide is located in the right bottom corner of the label.

I found that the combination of the two devices gave me good information and allowed me to visualize the artwork in greater detail. There is no verbal description available on the audio guide and app - this would be a wonderful addition to these well designed applications.

Top: Label with signs for audio guide on the bottom right  and smartphone app on the bottom left

Bottom: Audio guide and smartphone with app in front of a label

Getting around

Navigating the museum might be a bit of a challenge if you want to see specific works, since there are no large print maps available.

The best way to get around is to resort to the old custom of asking the guards for direction. Since the galleries are spacious it is easy to walk from gallery to gallery. There are not many obstacles in your way, except for some benches, here and there and, of course, sculptures!

Last, but Not Least

So many important, original artworks are on display in this museum, that it felt as if I were walking through a text book of art history.

I will definitely come back to see more. Visit the bookstore and the cafe or treat yourself to a meal at the adjoining restaurant 'Holbein'.

Don´t miss the garden! Some of the flower beds have been planted in the style of some of the paintings in the galleries. When I was there in spring it was too early to see flowers. It must be delightful to spend some time on a bench in the garden during the summer.

Highlight of the museum: J.H.Wilhelm Tischbein: Goethe in the Roman Campagna

Tip

Visit the website before you actually go to the museum to check current exhibitions and changes on the information.

Familiarize yourself with the app beforehand to enhance your experience at the museum and check out the Digitorials, a multimedia preparation course, that is being offered for some exhibitions.

Enjoying a bench in the beautiful garden and listening to a sound installation