• Collections and Documentation
  • 20th/21st-Century Collection
  • Archaeological Collection
  • Arms and Militaria Collection
  • Banner and Flag Collection
  • Carriage, Wagon, Sled Collection
  • Ceramics Collection
  • Coin and Medal Collection
  • Ethnographic Collection
  • Furnishings Collection
  • Glass Collection
  • Graphic Collection
  • Historic Photography Collection
  • Jewellery Collection
  • Painting Collection
  • Precious Metals Collections
  • Sculpture Collection
  • Seal Collection
  • Stained Glass Collection
  • Textiles and Costume Collection
  • Timepiece and Scientific Instrument Collection
  • Toy Collection
  • Uniform Collection
• Documentation Centre
• Sammlungszentrum
• Lending and Registration
• Scientific Publications
• Online Collections

The Painting Collection

The museum’s collection of paintings comprises some 1,500 pieces, which can be subdivided into three main groups: religious pictures, secular pictures, and portraits. The objects were included in the collection on the basis of their artistic merit, their cultural significance, and their relevance to Switzerland and its history. The museum was permitted to accept them as gifts or bequests, or acquire them from dealers. More …