As part of the celebrations surrounding the 450th anniversary of the Berlinisches Gymnasium zum Grauen Kloster, the Gemäldegalerie and the Streitsche Stiftung have collectively organised a special presentation of works from the painting collection of Sigismund Streit (1687–1775), a Berlin-born businessman who spent most of his working life in Venice. Alongside significant works of 18th-century Venetian painting by artists such as Canaletto, Giuseppe Nogari and Jacopo Amigoni, the exhibition also presents historical documents and objects from the foundation’s collection that provide insights into Streit’s life and work, and into the connection between the Streitsche Stiftung and Berlin’s oldest gymnasium (high school).

Following the destruction of the school’s buildings during the Second World War, the Streitsche Stiftung entrusted its paintings – which had been hanging in the Berlinisches Gymnasium zum Grauen Kloster (founded in 1574) since the 18th century – to the Gemäldegalerie. The foundation can be traced back to former Graues Kloster pupil Sigismund Streit, who moved to Venice after completing his commercial apprenticeship in 1709, where he established himself as a successful businessman.

Streit created the first foundation to support his Berlin high school in 1752: from 1757, he began sending books to Berlin, with paintings also following from 1758. Later, in his adopted home of Venice, he began specifically commissioning paintings with the aim of enriching his Berlin foundation’s collection, including four significant Venetian vedutas by Canaletto, a series of paintings that depicted Venetian festivals, and a series on the theme of education and schooling. He wanted to create a gallery within the school. Later, his collected paintings would decorate the Berlinisches Gymnasium zum Grauen Kloster’s auditorium. Streit also provided the school with substantial financial support over several decades, which was used to pay teachers’ wages, offer student scholarships, expand the library and fund the construction of school buildings.

Staatliche Museen zu Berlin