Bode-Museum

The Bode-Museum presents a rich journey through European art, bringing together centuries of sculpture, sacred objects, and fine craftsmanship. Its galleries trace styles and stories from the Middle Ages up to the 18th century, showing how materials, techniques, and ideas evolved over time.

Highlights of sculpture across the centuries

The sculpture collection forms the museum’s core. Marble, wood, and bronze works stand side by side, from medieval religious figures to refined Baroque pieces. Visitors can follow changing expressions and poses, compare regional schools, and see how artists shaped emotion and movement in three dimensions.

Byzantine art and its distinctive language

The Bode-Museum is widely recognized for its Byzantine art. Icons, mosaics, and liturgical objects reveal a world of gold backgrounds, solemn faces, and symbolic detail. These works connect the Christian East with wider Mediterranean traditions, highlighting how faith, empire, and image-making intertwined.

The glint of history in the coin cabinet

The Münzkabinett, or coin cabinet, adds another layer to the museum’s story. Coins, medals, and seals trace political power, trade routes, and artistic trends in miniature. Portraits of rulers, allegorical scenes, and precise inscriptions turn small metal discs into historical documents and finely crafted works of art.