Wallraf-Richartz Museum in Cologne

The Wallraf-Richartz Museum is located on Cologne`s Town Hall Square. Here you can see a wonderful collection of medieval art, as well as a valuable collection of masters of Impressionism and Post-Impressionism. 

The Wallraf-Richartz Museum was founded in 1827 by the rector of the University of Cologne, Ferdinand Wallraf. Money for the construction of the museum building, as well as for the replenishment of the collection, was provided by the merchant Johann Richartz. Later, the Cologne Art Museum was named after these two people. In 2001, a new spacious building was built for the Wallraf-Richartz Museum. 

Ferdinand Wallraf was one of the most famous scientists of his time. He was able to collect a valuable collection of altarpiece medieval paintings from churches, which is now one of the largest in Europe. He also gave the museum a large collection of prints. Among them are engravings by Albrecht Durer. 

Wallraf`s collection includes several works by Stefan Lochner, a 15th-century famous artist from Cologne. His workshop was located on the site of where is now the Wallraf-Richartz Museum. Lochner`s most famous masterpiece is The Madonna in Roses, painted in 1448. 

In the Wallraf-Richartz Museum, you can see several works by famous masters of the Dutch Renaissance. There are paintings by Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Rubens, Jordans. No less significant is the collection of paintings by French Impressionists and post-Impressionists: Claude Monet, Eduard Manet, Auguste Renoir, Vincent Van Gogh, Marianne Stokes, Edvard Munch and others.