Hogenberg F., Braun G.: Bratislava vista, 1574
The Collection of Drawings and Prints by Old Masters includes the works, created in the late 15th century or the beginning of the 16th century up to the end of the 19th century. Comprising almost 8.500 items, it is the second largest collection of the gallery, although original drawings and albums of drawings by the 19th-century artists form only a small part of this collection. The smallest number of prints comes from the oldest period, whereas the majority of them were created in the 19th century, their great number partially reflects somewhat lower artistic quality. The core of this collection comes from the City Museum, which succeeded in acquiring a great number of precious prints. Collecting has focused particularly on the prints associated with Bratislava. The collection comprises many views of the city from the last third of the 16th century but especially from the 17th and 18th century when the classical townscapes enjoyed great popularity. A precious comprehensive collection of scenes from the coronations of Hungarian kings, taking place between 1563 and 1830, is also associated with the city of Bratislava. Both themes represent the major subject matter in the collection of old prints from the point of view of their significance for Bratislava as well as from the aspect of art. Apart from this, the collection also comprises several hundred views of other Slovak towns, landscapes, military and genre scenes, a great number of portraits, the most precious being the portrait album created after the paintings by Ján Kupecký (1666 - 1740). Religious scenes, created mainly until the end of the 18th century, form an important part of the collection. They also include several extraordinary examples of European graphic art. The older period comprises particularly the works of Netherlandish, German and later Dutch and Flemish masters who significantly influenced the development of graphic art and therefore their works were often imitated. The collection also contains a large number of valuable graphic works, the copies of great masters, such as Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528), Lucas van Leyden (1494-1533), Hendrik Goltzius (1558-1617), Johann Sadeler (around 1550-1603) and other artists. The most precious among them are the works of the master of graphic art, Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn (1606 - 1669).
However, most of the treasures owned by the gallery remain hidden because a permanent display of old prints would have a damaging effect on paper, which is sensitive to light and can only be exhibited for a certain limited period. The plan of exhibitions contains temporary displays of old prints, which are otherwise stored in a special depository. However, a collection of works exhibited on the first floor of Mirbach Palace, in the halls with panel ceiling, is on view throughout the year. This exquisite collection contains the original display of works of French Rococo graphic art. All graphic sheets were additionally coloured and therefore their transformation into paintings has enabled to exhibit them permanently.
Curator: Mgr. Martin Čičo
