The restoration of "Monk by the Sea" and "The Abbey in the Oakwood"

Caspar David Friedrich’s Monk by the Sea and The Abbey in the Oakwood are perhaps the two most famous examples of German Romantic art. Created between 1808 and 1810, these masterpieces from the Nationalgalerie suffered significant damage over two hundred years, greatly marring their general appearances. With generous support from the Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach Stiftung, the long-awaited restoration of both paintings began in 2013.

The Alte Nationalgalerie’s conservation department conducted a technical analysis of the works and – in close consultation with a panel of experts and with supervision from an advisory board – implemented the necessary conservation and restoration work. The extensive restoration project yielded new insight into Friedrich’s painting technique as well as his concept of colour. Monk and Abbey now stand in a new light.

Ih her speech Kristina Mösl, conservator at Alte Nationalgalerie, explicates this extensive restoration project.