It was another rainy day in Berlin. I decided I should sketch the Berlin Cathedral. Since it was raining, I needed some cover, so I sat on the upper steps of the Altes Museum, leaning back against a large Corinthian column. The Altes Museum is dedicated to displays of Greek and Roman artifacts. Pam and I had been through the museum the previous day. The museum was closed on Monday when I was sketching.
The sketching location wasn’t perfect. Large drops of water occasionally dripped off the top of the column and splashed on the iPad screen. There was also a fine mist which moistened everything. I discovered that the Apple Pencil didn’t always work on the wet screen. I had to keep wiping the screen on my belly to dry it off.
The sculpture in the foreground was of a woman about to spear a lion that was attacking her horse. You can’t really see the ion in my sketch and I left off the lions tail since it looked like another horse leg from this angle. The title of the sculpture is Löwenkämpfer or lion fighter by Albert Wolff.
I worked rather fast since it was rather cold for my hands and I didn’t want the iPad to short out from getting rained on. I have the pad in a protector with a fold over screen. I realized that if I reversed the position of the iPad in the folder, I could use the screen to block much of the rain.
The cathedral and the museum I was seated at are on what is referred to as Museum island. Also on the island are the Bode Museum, Pergamon Museum, Neue Museum, Alte National Museum, and the Humbolt Forum. Pam and I visited many of them.
There was a large cylinder shaped building just on the opposite bank of the river across from the Pergamon. Inside was a 5 story high mural that was just stunning. The mural is a 360 degree panorama created by Yadegar Asisi. It doesn’t look painted but rather must be assembled from large digital photos. Regardless of how it was created it is an impressive sight. The light changes showing the time of day and fires burn at a sacrificial alter. Goats are slaughtered in the street. I think this impressed me the most of everything we saw in the museums.
Pam and I also arrived first thing in the morning the next day to climb to the top of the cathedral. You can walk all around the rim of the dome and see full panoramic views of the city. Pam chugged up the steps effortlessly but I had to take my time since I have been studio bound for some time. I did get to the top with lots of huffing and puffing.