International Art Treasures Web Magazine

December  2004  

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The Princely Collection

Royalty and art collection and commission have long been associated with one another. The Royal House of Liechtenstein are the owners of an incredible collection of art. Throughout their long history the various family members have brought their own tastes and expanded the ever growing collection. The artworks are believed to be among the most beautiful private art collections in the world.

The main home for the Princely Artworks is Vaduz Castle. A second location became available on March 29, 2004 when the Liechtenstein Museum was reopened to the public.

Title: Facade of the Garden Palace
© Collections of the Princes of Liechtenstein, Vaduz
Image Courtesy: Liechtenstein Museum

Permanent Collection

Title: Portrait of the Prince Joseph Wenzel of Liechtenstein (1697-1772), 1740
Artist: Hyacinthe Rigaud (1659-1743)
Medium: Oil on Canvas, Dimensions: 146 x 114 cm, Inv. no. G 1496
Inscribed on the Reverse:
Peint á Paris per Hyacinthe Rigaud, Chevalier de L'ordre de S. Michel, en 1740.
Provenance: Commissioned from the Artist by Prince Joseph Wenzel of Liechtenstein
 © Collections of the Princes of Liechtenstein, Vaduz
Image Courtesy: Liechtenstein Museum

Royal family members past and present commissioned portraits of themselves as a lasting legacy to their time on the world purview.

In the Seventeenth Century it was not uncommon to select noted French portraitist Hyacinthe Rigaud to record one's image for posterity.

The Portrait of Prince Joseph Wenzel of Liechtenstein (1697-1772), includes the Baroque flavored background favored by Riguard. The magnificent red flowing drapes used as an antithesis to the stiff subject in the foreground was a common characteristic of the popular French artist in his works.

Title: Ships off the Coast, 1672
Artist: Willem van de Velde the Younger (1633-1707)
Medium: Oil on Canvas, Dimensions: 45 x 55 cm, Inv. no. G 918
Signed Lower Center on a Piece of Wood: W. V. Velde 1672
Provenance: Acquired by Prince Johannes II of Liechtenstein in 1881
 © Collections of the Princes of Liechtenstein, Vaduz
Image Courtesy: Liechtenstein Museum

Willem van de Velde, the Younger was a marine artist like his father. It was the son that was set apart with his vivid sense of composition found in his paintings.

Title: Christ in Distress, 1607 Artist: Adrian de Fries (1545-1626) Medium: Bronze with Brown Natural Patina, Inv. no. S 515 Inscribed: ADRIANUS FRIES HAGENSIS / FECIT 1607 Provenance: Purchased from the Artist by Prince Karl I of Liechtenstein in 1607  © Collections of the Princes of Liechtenstein, Vaduz Image Courtesy: Liechtenstein Museum

The Princely Collection of Liechtenstein includes an extensive array of bronze sculptures from a wide range of artists including Adrian de Fries.

The collections spans the centuries tied closely with that of the family. Renaissance masters, bronze artists and more are part of this magnificent private array of works.

Title: Liechtenstein Garden Palace, Garden Side, 1759-60
Artist: Bernardo Bellotto (1720-1780)
Medium: Oil on Canvas, Dimensions: 100 x 159 cm, Inv. no. G 889
 © Collections of the Princes of Liechtenstein, Vaduz
Image Courtesy: Liechtenstein Museum

Recent Acquisitions

Title: Bouquet of Flowers
Artist: Jan van Huysum (Dutch 1682-1749)
Medium: Oil on Canvas, Dimensions: 89 x 71 cm, Inv. no. G 540
Inscribed at the bottom: Jan van Huysum fecit.
Provenance: Owned by the Princely Collection from 1819 to 1950
Acquired again in 2002 by Prince Hans Adam II of Liechtenstein
 © Collections of the Princes of Liechtenstein, Vaduz
Image Courtesy: Liechtenstein Museum

Jan van Huysum was born in Amsterdam and became one of the greatest flower painters ever. His works combined vivid colors, flamboyant compositions and an intriguing use of light. Van Huysum is credited with being a precursor to the development of the Rococo period.

Title: The Judgement of Paris c. 1695-1700
Artist: Massimiliano Soldani-Benzi (Italian 1665-1740)
Medium: Bronze, Dimensions: 38 cm, Inv. no. S 911
Provenance: Acquired by Prince Hans Adam II of Liechtenstein 2002
 © Collections of the Princes of Liechtenstein, Vaduz
Image Courtesy: Liechtenstein Museum

One of Europe's oldest Royal families still in existence is the Princely House of Liechtenstein, beginning with Heinrich I,  who ruled until his death in 1265/6.

The family was named for their Castle which was owned by others but now is back in the family's hands.

The Liechtenstein Museum in Vienna houses one of the most acclaimed private collections in the world.