Strasbourg 1560-1600. The renewal of the arts

Don’t know who Tobias Stimmer and Wendel Dietterlin are? That’s not a problem - this exhibition in Strasbourg is here to tell us, through a comprehensive overview of artistic creation at the end of the 16th century. As always in these magical places, the Musée de l’Œuvre Notre-Dame does much more than host the exhibition, since it is accessed via the magnificent spiral staircase built by the architect Hans Thomann Uhlberger between 1578 and 1585, the first masterpiece on display. Those who remember "Strasbourg 1400" (see article) and then "Strasbourg 1200" (see article) will not be surprised by this new stage, in which the finest museum of medieval art allows itself a step aside by exploring the last lights of the Renaissance in a very pleasant scenography by Atelier Caravane.

1. View of the exhibition "Strasbourg 1560-1600. The renewal of the arts" exhibition
Photo: Musées de la Ville de Strasbourg

See the image in its page

2. View of the exhibition "Strasbourg 1560-1600. The renewal of the arts" exhibition
Photo : Musées de la Ville de Strasbourg

See the image in its page

The presentation (ill. 1 and 2) highlights both the jewels of the Musée de l’Œuvre Notre-Dame and the major loans from other Strasbourg institutions - including the valuable BNU - The exhibition is skilfully structured around recent restoration work carried out on important relics from the late 16th century: the grisaille canvases painted by Tobias Stimmer for the sculptures on the cathedral’s famous astronomical clock, and the woodwork in the Salle des Administrateurs de l’Œuvre Notre-Dame, to which we will return later. The assured erudition of the subject does not for a moment make it severe - or boring - as the excellent room texts are an ideal accompaniment for visitors who are new to, or at least unfamiliar with, the cultural and artistic history of the Empire Free City.

3. Views of the restored grisailles by Tobias Stimmer…