Dresden, the capital of the kingdom of Saxony, is situated in a charming valley on the Elbe, 116 miles SE. of Berlin, and 62 ESE. of Leipzig. The Altstadt and Friedrichstadt on the left bank of the Elbe, and the Neustadt and Antonstadt on the right or northern bank, are united by the Augustus Bridge, dating in its present form from 1727-29; the Albert Bridge, erected in 1875-77, both masterpieces of architecture; and by the Marienbrücke, which is at once a railway and a carriage bridge. Dresden is a pleasant and attractive, though not exactly a beautiful town. It contains several open squares, and is embellished with statues and public gardens; and the Brühl Terrace, on the south bank of the Elbe, originally laid out by Count Brühl in 1738, is a charming promenade, on which in 1889 extensive improvements were made. Its architecture and splendid art collections, the presence of the Saxon court, and the numerous foreigners who are attracted by its artistic and educational reputation, render Dresden one of the pleasantest and gayest of the smaller residential continental towns.
Dresden occupies an important position in the history of art, especially as the cradle of rococo art, which culminated here about the middle of the 18th century. Herder called it the German Florence. The Academy of Art, opened in 1764, and specially famous for drawing and architecture, the choir in connection with the Roman Catholic church, and the Conservatory of Music, are all of no small importance to the progress of art at the present day. Scientific, educational, æsthetic, and benevolent institutions also abound in the town. The museum, one of the finest specimens of modern architecture, built by Semper in 1847-54, contains collections of engravings (400,000 examples) and drawings, besides the famous picture-gallery. The last, which owes its origin chiefly to Augustus III. of Saxony, who purchased the Modena gallery in 1745, is one of the finest collections out of Italy, and contains about 2400 paintings, mainly by Italian and Flemish masters. The gem of the collection is the 'Sistine Madonna,' by Raphael (see PIACENZA); other masterpieces being Titian's 'Tribute Money,' and Correggio's 'Magdalene,' and 'La Notte.' The so-called 'Holbein Madonna,' often ranked second among the treasures of the gallery, is now admitted to be a replica, the original being at Darmstadt. Adjoining the museum is the Zwinger, a remarkable rococo building of 1711-22, designed as the vestibule of an elaborate palace, of which, however, no more was ever built. It now contains valuable collections of casts, zoology, mineralogy, and mathematical and philosophical instruments. The Johanneum, erected as royal stables at the end of the 16th century, now accommodates the historical museum, founded in 1833, the gallery of arms, and the priceless collection of porcelain, which embraces 15,000 specimens. The Augusteum, or collection of antiquities, chiefly Roman objects of the Imperial times, and the Royal Public Library, are deposited in the Japanese Palace, built in 1715 in the Neustadt. The library contains nearly 350,000 volumes, 20,000 maps, and 4000 MSS., and is particularly complete in the departments of literary history and classical antiquity, as well as in histories of France and Germany. The 'Green Vault' in the royal palace contains a valuable collection of precious stones, pearls, and curios, and articles in gold, silver, ivory, &c. The cabinet of coins is also preserved in the palace. The list of art treasures in Dresden may be closed with the collection of antiques (chiefly ecclesiastical), and the gallery of casts of the works of the sculptor Rietschel, both in the 'Lustschloss,' erected in 1680, in the Grosse Garten, a handsome public park, 350 acres in extent. Among the important buildings not yet mentioned are the royal palace, a large and rambling edifice of no architectural importance, begun by Duke George in 1534, and completed by Augustus II.; the prince's palace, erected by Augustus II. in 1718; the Brühl Palace, dating from 1737; the town-house (1741-45), restored and enlarged in 1862-65; and the magnificent new theatre (1871-78), designed by Semper. Of the churches, the finest are the Frauenkirche (1726-34), with a lofty dome and lantern 320 feet in height; the Roman Catholic church (1737-56), in an elaborate baroque style, adorned on the exterior with sixty-four statues; the Sophienkirche (1351-57), restored and provided with towers in 1865-69; and the Kreuzkirche, the largest church in Dresden, dating from 1764-85, was burnt down in 1897. The Synagogue (1838-40), by Semper, is worthy of mention.
The most important industries are the manufactures of gold and silver articles, artificial flowers, machinery, chemicals, paper-hangings, painters' canvas and colours, chocolate, &c.; and straw-plaiting, brewing, and market-gardening. The so-called 'Dresden china' is manufactured not at Dresden but at Meissen (see POTTERY). A considerable trade is carried on by means of the Elbe, which is also enlivened by numerous small passenger-steamers. Pop. (1871) 177,087; (1885) 246,086; (1890) 289,844.
Dresden is of very early Slavonic origin, though first mentioned as a town in 1216. The oldest part was on the right bank of the river, but having been rebuilt after a fire in 1685, it has since been known as the Neustadt. Henry the Illustrious made Dresden his capital in 1270, and after the division of the Saxon lands in 1485 it became the seat of the Albertine line, and its prosperity increased. Several sovereigns contributed to its embellishment, as Augustus I. and Augustus II. It suffered severely, however, during the Seven Years' War, and again in August 1813, when the armies of the allies gathered from all sides towards Dresden. The assault was made on the 26th, but was beaten back by Napoleon; and the allies retreated. Napoleon did not quit the city till the 7th Oct., leaving nearly 30,000 men behind. As all access was cut off by the Russians, the city suffered from famine, and capitulated on 11th Nov. The revolution of 1849 also did great damage to the town. Dresden was occupied by the Prussians in 1866. Since that period great and numerous improvements have been effected, and the city has been extended, especially in the south-eastern suburbs, known as the English and American quarters.