Water paint painting of the Glyptothek in the 1930s
From around 1830, the collection was displayed in the Glyptothek design by Leo van Klenze. He created a Gesamtkunstwerk with colorfully painted walls and ceilings where the emphasis was on the architecture rather than the superb sculptures, which were mostly relegated to the walls and corners of the rooms.
Damage during the Second World War led to the destruction of the roof and wall paintings but the basic building structure survived. When the museum was finally restored in the 1960s, it followed the original suggestions of Von Wagner — plain walls and an undecorated floor. The sculptures were moved mostly to the center of the rooms and are beautifully displayed with light flowing in from large windows that open to the large central courtyard.