Press Release March 16, 2016

In this exhibition on the work of August Kopisch (1799–1853), ’s Alte August Kopisch – Painter, Poet, Nationalgalerie focuses on one of the most versatile nineteenth century artists. Discoverer, Inventor March 19–July 17, 2016 Like nobody else, the Breslau-born artist combined painting, poetry, and the spirit of discovery and invention. He first made a name for himself as the Alte Nationalgalerie discoverer of the on the island of , since then a popular Museumsinsel tourist destination. As a painter, Kopisch created works of their very own Bodestraße 1-3 10178 Berlin poetic brilliance, using a magical blue or a sumptuous twilight red to depict light phenomena in an impressive way. One of his many literary achievements www.augustkopischinberlin.de was a brilliant translation of Dante’s Divine Comedy. But his greatest claim to fame is the poem “Die Heinzelmännchen,” still beloved today. Opening Hours Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun 10am–6pm Thu 10am–8pm Kopisch already took instruction in drawing as a young boy. He left his Mon closed hometown at age 15 to study at the art academy in , continuing his studies of painting in and later in . He travelled to in 1824, Admission 12 Euro, reduced 6 Euro (incl. spending a year in Rome and arriving in in the spring of 1826. The permanent collection) southern landscape and Neapolitan life inspired him to folkloric poetry, translations, and paintings intense with color. In 1829, Kopisch returned to Press Contact Breslau, where he created a pleorama of the with Carl Exhibition Dr. Katharina von Chlebowski Ferdinand Langhans in 1831. In 1833, he moved to Berlin, where he Theresa Lucius surrounded himself with poets, scholars, and artists, consorting with the likes Tel +49 (0)30 26 39 48 80 of Alexander von Humboldt, Friedrich Wilhelm Schelling and Crown Prince Fax +49 (0)30 26 39 48 811 Frederick William, who named him an official art consultant after his presse@freunde-der- nationalgalerie.de coronation in 1840, awarding him a pension in 1841. During his Berlin years, www.freunde-der-nationalgalerie.de Kopisch published important works and showed his painting regularly at academy exhibitions. Press Contact Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Mechtild Kronenberg In five rooms, the exhibition presents over 40 paintings and drawings and Markus Farr around 80 additional objects, including inventions like the so-called “fast Tel +49 (0)30 266 42 34 02 furnace,” musical settings, letters, publications, and illustrations, are presented Fax +49 (0)30 266 42 34 09 to testify to Kopisch’s wide variety of work. The show begins with the [email protected] www.smb.museum/presse discovery of the Blue Grotto and numerous paintings by Kopisch and his counterparts. The exhibition continues with Kopisch’s studies, his stay in Italy, his painting, and his writing, culminating with an installation that takes the The exhibition is made possible by the visitor on a fictional boat trip along the Gulf of Naples. Verein der Freunde der Nationalgalerie and supported by Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft. The exhibition is made possible by the Verein der Freunde der Nationalgalerie and supported by Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft.