Neue Galerie of Austrian Art Nouveau in NYC
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The Neue Galerie is New York City’s premier museum for German and Austrian artwork. Occupying an elegant mansion in the Museum Mile neighborhood, this attraction is one of NYC’s top specialty art museums. Visitors will be equally impressed by the property’s stunning European-inspired architecture and lavish interior design.
Art Collection
The core collection of the Neue Galerie consists of paintings that were done by some of the most prominent artists from Germany and Austria during the late 19th century and early 20th century. Galleries are categorized according to distinct groups that were affiliated with particular movements in German Expressionism and other related niches. The museum has an extensive collection of artwork from the Der Blaue Reiter group, which includes Franz Marc and Vasily Kandinsky. Part of the Die Brucke classification, paintings by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Hermann Max Pechstein are also on display.
Additionally, artwork from the Bauhaus movement is included in several of the galleries. Perhaps the most precious items in the Neue Galerie include paintings by Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt, and Oskar Kokoschka. In fact, Lauder purchased Klimt’s Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I for a record-breaking 135 million dollars. Completed in the early 1900s as a privately commissioned artwork, this painting was temporarily in the hands of the Nazis during World War II. The intangibles of the Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I have made it one of the most expensive paintings ever sold at an auction.
Other Highlights
Named in honor of the museum’s founder, Cafe Sabarsky has a delicious menu that’s inspired by traditional Austrian cuisine. Hungry patrons can enjoy sweet pastries and other light fare along with refreshing beverages. Having an interior design that’s also reminiscent of the 20th century, Cafe Fledermaus offers casual dining in an intimate setting. Throughout the year, the Neue Galerie hosts cabaret-style shows that celebrate German and Austrian culture. The seasonal performances attract contemporary singers, actors, comedians, and other European entertainers.
History
In the 1960s, businessman Serge Sabarsky operated a boutique gallery that was dedicated primarily to German art. Ronald Steven Lauder was one of Sabarasky’s most loyal and frequent customers. After forming a friendship and business relationship, the two men hoped to someday open a museum that would display an extensive collection of German and Austrian artwork.
After Sabarsky passed away in 1996, Lauder passionately tried to establish a museum featuring a collection that the two men shared. In 2001, the Neue Galerie opened in the historic William Starr Miller House. Built in the Beaux Arts style, this mansion was home to notable elite families in NYC. Several of the property’s floors were transformed into gallery spaces that are suitable for displaying precious paintings and other decorative items.
Interestingly, Sabarsky and Lauder invested in the house early in the 1990s with the hope of turning it into a public museum. However, Sabrasky’s death and financial issues significantly delayed the opening of this specialty museum.
Visiting Neue Galerie
Overlooking the iconic Fifth Avenue, the Neue Galerie is situated in the heart of the Museum Mile district of Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Upscale residential properties and the lush Central Park define the quaint atmosphere of this particular area of New York City. Located about three blocks east of the museum, the 86 Street Lexington Avenue station is served by the 4, 5, and 6 lines of the NYC subway system. There are also numerous Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) bus routes that stop along Fifth Avenue, Madison Avenue, and other major roads in the museum’s vicinity. The quiet and relatively low-traffic streets of the Upper East Side make it easy to drop off and pick up people near the venue.
Location: 1048 Fifth Avenue at 86th Street (in an area known as Museum Mile), New York, NY, 10028
Click here to visit Neue Galerie official website.
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