The Stadel Museum in Frankfurt, Germany, houses an impressive collection of European art from the Middle Ages to Modernism. Highlights include iconic medieval religious scenes, pioneering Renaissance portraits, dramatic Baroque themes, and influential landscapes. Wandering its galleries allows you to witness first-hand the evolving mastery of painting over centuries. Here are some of the highlights you don’t want to miss when visiting this world-class museum.
Gothic Masterpieces
The Madonna in the Rose Bower (1448) by Stephan Lochner: This iconic German Gothic painting shows Mary and the Christ child surrounded by angels in a rose arbour. Lochner used delicate colours and precise details to create an intimate yet divine setting. The lifelike figures and realistic shadows reflect the increased naturalism of 15th-century art.
Portrait of Frankfurt Mayor Johann von Melem (1419) by Conrad Fyoll: As one of the earliest independent portraits in Western art, this painting provides insight into 15th-century Frankfurt. The meticulous detail shows the progressing realism of the time period and gives a glimpse into the life of a major city leader.
Self-Portrait with Beret (1478) by Hans Memling: Memling was a leading Early Netherlandish painter whose emotive portraits helped move painting toward naturalism. This simple yet monumental self-portrait demonstrates his skill at humanising his subjects through subtle gestures and soft brushwork.
Captivating Landscapes
Forest Floor with Flowers (1615) by Roelandt Savery: Savery pioneered painting landscapes for their own aesthetic sake, not just as backdrops. This rich forest scene with sunlight filtering through the trees demonstrates his influential innovations in landscape art through its atmospheric use of light.
The Windmill (1650-55) by Jacob van Ruisdael: Ruisdael brought a dramatic quality to his landscape paintings through strong lines and contrasts between dark foregrounds and glowing distant views. The windmill is a signature Ruisdael subject that anchors this rugged scene.
View of Dordrecht (1700) by Aelbert Cuyp: Cuyp specialised in golden-hued Dutch landscapes like this radiant sunrise view of Dordrecht. The long horizontal format and serene morning light reflect his ability to capture fleeting moments in nature.
Baroque Drama
The Blinding of Samson (1636) by Rembrandt: This dramatic Biblical scene depicts the climax of Samson’s downfall. Rembrandt spotlights the pivotal moment using his expert chiaroscuro technique, with Samson lit up against a dark background. The expressive poses and emotions make this one of Rembrandt’s most powerful history paintings.
The Toilet of Venus (The Rokeby Venus) (1647-51) by Diego Velázquez: Velázquez brings his astonishing skills as a portraitist to this sensual mythological painting. The goddess Venus looks back over her shoulder, locking eyes with the viewer. Velázquez captures the intimacy of this private moment through loose, impressionistic brushwork.
Captivating Portraits
Self-Portrait with Velvet Beret (1638) by Peter Paul Rubens: Rubens was a Flemish Baroque master, and this virtuosic self-portrait shows his characteristic energy and robustness. From the thick impasto brushwork to the rich red velvet beret, Rubens portrays himself as a wise and worldly man.
Portrait of Hendrickje Stoffels (1654-6) by Rembrandt: This intimate portrait depicts Rembrandt’s common-law wife Hendrickje Stoffels, bathed in soft afternoon light. Rembrandt reveals her quiet dignity and inner strength through subtle colours and loose, impressionistic touches that seem like stolen moments from everyday life.
Visitor Information
The Stadel Museum is open from 10 AM to 6 PM and 10 AM to 9 PM on a Thursday. The Museum is closed on Mondays.
Tickets cost from €18.00 for regular admission and from €16.00 for reduced admission. You can purchase tickets online from the museum’s website.
From medieval altarpieces to Rembrandt self-portraits, the Stadel Museum allows you to experience first-hand the evolution of European painting across centuries. Wandering its galleries provides an immersive overview of art history and lets you see masterpieces from Gothic delicacy to Baroque drama.
