Mainz State Museum (Landesmuseum), Mainz

The Mainz State Museum (Landesmuseum Mainz) is one of Germany's oldest museums, with its origins tracing back to 1803. It was founded when Jean-Antoine Chaptal, under the direction of Napoleon Bonaparte, donated 36 paintings to the city of Mainz. Initially called the Municipal Painting Collection, it grew over the years and, by 1937, found its home in the former electoral stables. In 1986, it adopted its current name, and from 2004 to 2010, the museum underwent a significant renovation, updating both its infrastructure and exhibits.

The museum’s collection spans an impressive range of art and cultural history, covering periods from prehistory, through the Roman Empire, the Middle Ages, and the Baroque era, all the way to the 20th century. Among the notable artifacts are prehistoric relics such as a Venus-like statue from 23,000 BC and Roman memorials, including a 1st-century Jupiter Column. The museum also boasts an array of Byzantine and Near-Eastern items collected by Prince Johann Georg.

In terms of artwork, the museum showcases works by notable artists such as Hans Baldung Grien, Lorenzo di Credi, and Philippe de Champaigne, as well as later masters like Max Liebermann, Lovis Corinth, and Pablo Picasso. The museum also houses items of Jewish cultural and religious significance, including the gravestone of Gershom ben Judah, an important medieval Jewish scholar.

As a hub of cultural education, the Mainz State Museum hosts regular teaching events, complementing its rich collection of art and historical artifacts. Together with the Roman-Germanic Central Museum and the Gutenberg Museum, it stands as one of the most important museums in the city.