The Staatliche Graphische Sammlung in Munich (München), Germany, is a large collection of drawings, prints and engravings. It contains 400,000 sheets starting from the 15th century from various artists around the world. Along with Kupferstichkabinett Berlin and Kupferstichkabinett Dresden, it is the most important collection of its kind in Germany. It is owned by the government of Bavaria and located within the Kunstareal, a museum quarter in the city centre of Munich.
History
Its history dates back to 1758 Charles Theodore, Elector of Bavaria (Carl Theodor von der Pfalz) in the Mannheim Palace with his Kupferstich- und Zeichnungskabinett. In 1794, it was brought to Munich because of French troops. In 1839, parts of the collection were first publicly displayed in the Kupferstich-Kabinett of Alte Pinakothek. In 1874, it became an independent and government-owned museum. In 1905, it was renamed to Königliche Graphische Sammlung. In 1917, the inventory was moved to Neue Pinakothek until 1944. In 1949, it was renamed to Staatliche Graphische Sammlung and relocated to Münchner Haus der Kulturinstitute. In 2002, the Graphische Sammlung has own exhibition areas in the Pinakothek der Moderne for temporary exhibitions (Sonderausstellungen).