Steinmeier admits: Art for democracy in Bellevue Palace

With some artistically redesigned rooms, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier wants to emphasize the democratic role of his Berlin official residence, Schloss Bellevue. "In order to emphasize the expressiveness of Bellevue Palace as a place of representation of democracy, we have made some new accents that are reminiscent of the roots and ramifications of the German Enlightenment, freedom and democracy history," said Steinmeier at the presentation on Friday in Berlin.

Berlin - Two salons in the basement of the building in the Tiergarten as well as one salon each on the upper floor and in the south wing have been redesigned. A hall named after the publisher, democrat and freedom fighter Robert Blum (1807-1848) has been remembering democratic roots in the 19th century with paintings and drawings since November. The entrance gallery continues to give a glimpse of the present - in contrast to the other rooms - with repeatedly renewed modern art.

A room previously referred to as a ladies' salon now represents the tradition of Berlin debating salons and is named after Rahel Varnhagen (1771-1833), whose work is reminiscent of two paintings and a sculpture.

“The contribution of Jewish learning and in particular the self-confident, even emancipated contribution of Jewish women should in future also be permanently at home in Bellevue Palace,” said Steinmeier.

The former garden salon is now dedicated to Voltaire (1694-1778) with busts and paintings.

With him and similar German thinkers, Steinmeier recalls "one of the most influential pioneers of the Enlightenment, opponent of feudalism and absolutism, biting critics of all kinds of superstitions - we would say today: conspiracy theories - critics of subservience, arbitrariness and domination".

In the south wing, a stone collection, portraits and writings commemorate the work of the brothers Alexander (1769–1859) and Wilhelmvon Humboldt (1767–1835).

A room is also dedicated to Karl Friedrich Schinkel (1781–1841), according to Steinmeier the “greatest and most important architect that Prussia produced and who at the same time significantly shaped the Prussian metropolis of Berlin”.

The former music room is now adorned with a bust of Schinkel's designs for well-known buildings such as the concert hall on Gendarmenmarkt, which was built as a theater, the Friedrichswerder Church and the Neue Wache.

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For Steinmeier, “the time of the construction of Bellevue Palace in 1785 was not left that far” with the redesign.

The new accentuation broadened the picture to include what had been thought and done in Germany in an enlightening, free-spirited and progressive way.

"This expansion - that's what we're about - shows at the same time the roots of the European-related, liberal and democratic Germany." Dpa