Neoclassical Berlin: A Virtual Tour

Inspired by the archaeological findings at Herculaneum and Pompeii, Neoclassicism quickly came to dominate European design in the 18th century. A prime example of this on a citywide scale can be seen in 19th century Berlin, specifically through the work of Karl Friedrich Schinkel (1781-1841), who helped transformed the city from an unimpressive architectural backwater into a spectacular imperial capital. One of the most important architects of 19th century Germany, Schinkel was also a noted city planner, a designer of furniture and decorative arts, an interior decorator, a painter, and a designer of stage sets (his famous 1815 star-spangled backdrop for the entrance of the Queen of the Night in Mozart’s The Magic Flute is still a resource for modern productions of the opera). Based on his 2016 heritage tour, in this webinar—part travelogue, part virtual tour—Curt DiCamillo, will transport you to the great palaces and museums of Berlin and its environs.

If you’d like to experience some of Berlin’s history without leaving home, click here for a virtual presentation on YouTube. Curt originally presented this lecture online in April of 2023 for the New England Historic Genealogical Society.