Masterpieces of baroque art return to the new palace after 30 years!

Masterpieces of baroque art return to the new palace after 30 years!

On July 16, 2025, the time had finally come: The upper gallery in the new Palais in Potsdam opened its gates for art enthusiasts again after more than 30 years. With this reopening, five significant baroque works of art are made accessible to a wide audience. The room that was once unpassable for the public, which was closed due to static problems, now shines again in new splendor and attracts attention with his Italian masterpieces.

The core of the exhibition is the restored paintings by renowned artists such as Artemisia Genttileschi, Guido Reni and Luca Giordano. These masterpieces, especially the two works by the diverse painter Genttileschi, offer exciting insights into the art of the baroque age. Her picture “Bathseba im Bade” from the years 1635-45 and “Lucretia and Tarquinius” from 1627-1630 are just a few highlights, which now finally adorn the walls of the gallery. It was an elaborate undertaking, the originals that Frederick the Great once installed in the wall paneling in 1768.

restoration and financing

In the past six years, work has been worked on the restoration of the works of art. Various restorers and over 860 working hours were used. Thanks to third-party funds from foundations, including the Rudolf-August Oetker Foundation, the extensive restoration, which was completed by 2023, could be realized. The demanding treatment of the images included cleaning and retouching techniques as well as the careful restoration of the frames that were provided with noble gold leaf.

The floor protection measure was the second major challenge, because the historical parquet must not be entered. Instead, a bridge construction was installed, which enables visitors to admire the works of art at a certain distance. The upper gallery remains an admission -free access to the treasures of the Sanssouci park, which remained unaffected during the renovation work.

visitor information

The gallery is open daily from April to October, from Wednesday to Monday between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. and from November to March to 4:30 p.m. For an entrance fee of 14 euros (reduced 10 euros), art lovers can admire the baroque splendor to their heart's content. For the very curious people there is also in-depth information about the gallery and the exhibited works in the SPSG app "Sanssouci".

The reopening of the upper gallery is not only a joy for art lovers, but also a small cultural -historical event, as Minister of Culture Wolfram Weimer aptly stated. This return of the baroque masterpieces, which played an important role in the artistic landscape under Frederick the Great, brings a breath of fresh air to the regional sights and certainly moves many interested visitors to Brandenburg.

So it remains to be hoped that the gallery with its precious works of art not only awakens old memories, but also attracts new lovers of art and culture. Because the baroque masterpieces always deserve to be back in the spotlight.

For more detailed information on the exhibition and the works of art, interested parties are interested in the platforms of Tagesschau and [SPSG] (https://www.spsg.de/blog/article/2025/07/11/restauration-im-fokus-ein-blick-hinter-die-scenissen, which in their articles report extensively about the restoration and the now accessible works of art. In addition, [Restoration Art] (https://restauration-kunst-art.de/conserving-Restauration-von-gemaelden-Alder-and-Neuer-Master-Master-Kunst-Kunst-and-Modernene-und-Zier frame-Praeventive-preservation/) offers interesting insights into the technical details of the art restoration.