New Online Portal Opens Access to 10,000 19th-Century Italian Photographs

The Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen has unveiled a new website dedicated to the Dietmar Siegert Collection, which comprises approximately 10,000 photographs taken by 300 photographers between 1846 and 1900, including notable figures like Giorgio Sommer, Giacomo Brogi, and Fratelli Alinari. This collection highlights scenes from Venice's canals, the streets of Naples, and the monuments of Rome. Users can utilize advanced search features and a Deepzoom function for viewing high-resolution images. Acquired in 2014 by the Neue Pinakothek, with support from the Pinakotheks-Verein, Ernst von Siemens Kunststiftung, and Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe, this collection enriches the museum's Italian art offerings. An exhibition titled 'Menschenbilder. Porträt- und Genrefotografien aus der Sammlung Dietmar Siegert' is set to open on October 13, 2026, in the East Wing of the Alte Pinakothek.