A whirlwind adventure in the German capital

Museum Council Patron-level members are able to take advantage of exclusive tours led by the Museum’s expert curators. These trips offer global perspectives on art, history, and culture. Justin DuMouchelle and Kara Doyle recall a recent trip to Berlin:

“Berlin was another wonderful trip filled with art, history, and new and old friends. The trip started with a tour of the Bode Museum to see an exhibition juxtaposing African art and objects from the permanent collection, from Donatello sculptures to carved wooden Madonnas. We were led by Ronni Baer, William and Ann Elfers Senior Curator of Paintings, Art of Europe, and Liz Munsell, Lorraine and Alan Bressler Curator of Contemporary Art and Special Initiatives, who provided an amazing amount of expertise in both Renaissance and contemporary art. We went next to the old Berlin train station, Hamburger Bahnhof, which is now an incredible contemporary museum. Continuing our exploration of contemporary art, we ventured to the Boros Bunker, a converted WWII bomb shelter that is now home to the Boros family’s collection of contemporary art. The night ended with a wonderful reception at a wine bar. Patron trips are definitely about art, but the meals are always wonderful, too. Our favorite part of traveling with the Museum is getting to know new friends.

“The following day we strolled back to the Museum Island to visit the Alte Nationalgalerie, Pergamon Museum, and Neues Museum, one of the most incredible national collections with wonderful paintings from Van Gogh to Monet and incredible historical artifacts including the Nefertiti Bust and the Ishtar Gate. Ronni arranged a special viewing and tour with the curator of a closed exhibition dedicated to the work of Caspar David Friedrich. A special moment like that is something you can only get when traveling with wonderful MFA curators.

“These trips are jam-packed with activities, and after lunch we visited a private collection with an incredible variety of pieces, including a large number of 2D and 3D Frank Stella pieces. Next, we traveled to the studio of Olafur Eliasson, a very prolific and creative contemporary artist. The night was capped off by a concert at the Berlin Philharmonic.

“The following morning, we headed to a couple great local galleries and then deep into the European Renaissance at the Gemäldegalerie, where we viewed spectacular paintings from Dürer, Vermeer, Rembrandt, and Caravaggio. After a quick tour of some of the historical sites, we went to the Berggruen Museum to see their Picasso collection. Our whirlwind three days concluded in spectacular fashion with a champagne toast and dinner high above the city on the roof of the Reichstag, home to Germany’s parliament. It was a trip we will not soon forget. If you are excited about seeing the world and embarking on a one-of-a-kind, deep-dive art experience, make sure to check out future travel opportunities!”