Art Tells Its Own Story

In the completely redesigned presentation of the collection, the precious medieval works of art tell their own stories. For the first time, different perspectives on art can be experienced directly in the collection: fifteen chapters, from A as in ‘Alexander Schnütgen’ to S as in ‘Sculpture in the Late Middle Ages’, illuminate the respective context of the art with reference to past epochs, iconography, materials or techniques.

The newly designed and enlarged entrance area in the new building, completed in 2010, welcomes visitors, so to speak, into the Cologne living room of the collection’s founder, Alexander Schnütgen, circa 1910. ‘Works of Art for Worship’, for example, are presented in the 1950s building, while the main exhibition space in the Church of St Cecilia is dedicated to themes such as ‘Memento Mori’ and ‘Art for the City and the Church’.
All the works of art are explained in short texts and can be discovered in the context of the respective theme. An audio guide in German and English provides additional information on around 100 selected objects via QR code. This mobile application also provides reading texts in Ukrainian, Turkish and simple German.
In addition, accompanying booklets provide inspiration for beginners, material enthusiasts, those with a love of detail and creative minds. Equipped with a sketchbook and coloured pencils, children can get creative themselves and design their own medieval world. In the video room, ten objects are brought to life visually – they literally speak to us.

The spectrum of the permanent exhibition ranges from wood and stone sculptures, goldsmith’s work and stained glass to rare ivories and textiles.
A special feature is the tranquillity and aura of the Romanesque Church of St. Cecilia: the close proximity of the objects invites you to experience the spiritual radiance and beauty of the artworks.
Museum visitors can also visit the Cecilia Garden. Surrounded by beech hedges, it offers a place to relax in the middle of bustling Cologne, a stone’s throw from the lively Neumarkt.

For further reading at home, the publication ‘Museum Schnütgen – A Survey of the Collection’ gives a representative impression of the range and quality of the Museum Schnütgen’s holdings. Published by Hirmer Verlag in 2018, the handbook is available in separate German and English editions in the museum shop and in bookshops.

The new presentation of the collection is supported by: