France has always been an important benchmark in Bavarian history, politics and culture. This is also reflected in the collection of the Alte Pinakothek, which includes early acquisitions of paintings by Claude Lorrain and Nicolas Poussin, as well as portraits painted by French artists in the service of the Wittelsbach family. Based on a current cataloguing and research project, the exhibition takes a new look at this special collection.

The stories behind the acquisitions and commissions of selected works form the central theme. At the same time, complemented by selected loans, insights into stages of French painting history – and into the lives of artists who were highly mobile and active throughout Europe – are revealed. The result is a nuanced panorama in which a wide variety of styles and genres can be discovered. It becomes clear that perceptions and ideas about ‘French Art’ have changed over time – and that its presentation in museums also has a history.