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Old is New in Vienna!
This sumptuous volute krater from Puglia would be important for any museum, its been in the collection of Vienna's Kunsthistorisches for less than ten years. It's entry into the Viennese museum tells a story of the growth of the permanent holdings of a museum. Additions: Acquisitions 1990 – 2008
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Art Galleries, if lucky enough to have the funds or donors, traditionally add to their collection. An issue arises: what to pick when important items come on the market. |
Vienna's Kunsthistorisches Museum decided to create an exhibition that looks at the additions to their collection that were acquired during the years 1990-2008.
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For the past 20 years the Kunsthistorisches Museum had two goals prior to making any purchase "to fill existing gaps in the permanent collection, and to enlarge the museum’s holdings in areas of particular depth and quality." Both of these goals were met, evident from the splendid works featured in this exhibition Additions: Acquisitions 1990 – 2008 |
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Wilfried Seipel's Influence
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One of former director of the museum, Wilfried Seipel earliest purchases during his tenure was the necklace of a knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece. |
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His final acquisition, was in a similar vein it was a jewel from the Order of the Golden Fleece. Seipel led the Kunsthistorisches from 1990 and will retire from the position at the end of 2008. |
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View recently acquired works by Frans Floris, Lucas van Valckenborch and Hans von Aachen among others.
Frans Floris
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Frans de Vriendt, called Floris was a stonecutter's son. At first Floris followed in his father's footsteps but later chose painting as his career. |
Floris studied with Lambert Lombard. He then traveled to Italy, at Lombard's suggestion, to study the Renaissance masters and was heavily affected upon viewing Michelangelo's Last Judgment. Floris happened to be in Rome at the time of the unveiling 1541.
His works following 1541 were often large religious or mythological paintings.
Lucas van Valckenborch
Title: The Emperor Strolling in the Woods around Neugebäude Palace, 1590-1592
Artist: Lucas van Valckenborch (Flemish 1535 – 1597)
signed and dated on a boulder at bottom left: ”159. [last numeral illegible, possibly a 5]/L/VV”]
Purchased in 1993 for the Picture Gallery from an art-dealer (Robert Holden Ltd, London)
Image Courtesy and ©: Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum
Flemish artist Lucas van Valckenborch hailed from an artist family. Together with his brother Marten they ran a successful workshop in Frankfurt. Pieter Bruegel was a strong influence on their work. Lucas was best known for his landscapes such as The Emperor Strolling in the Woods around Neugebäude Palace.
Hans von Aachen
Title: Tarquinius and Lucretia, ca. 1600
Artist: Hans von Aachen (Cologne 1552 – 1615 Prague)
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 121 cm x 185 cm
Acquired for the Picture Gallery at an auction held at the
Dorotheum in Vienna on September 3, 1993
Image Courtesy and ©: Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum
Though born in Germany, Hans von Aachen spent most of his artistic career in Italy and Prague. He became Royal court painter to the Hapsburgs beginning with Emperor Rudolf II in 1592.
Title: Still-life with Bouquet of Flowers, around 1632
Artist: Georg Flegel (Olomouc 1566 – 1638 Frankfurt/Main, active in Frankfurt/Main)
Medium: Wood
Dimensions: 31.4 cm x 24.9 cm
Acquired in March 1994 for the Picture Gallery from Bob Haboldt and Rob Smeets, New York, Milan
Image Courtesy and ©: Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum
Floris, Flegel, von Aachen just a few of the important works added to the Kunsthistorisches Museum's collection during the past twenty years.
Additions: Acquisitions 1990 – 2008
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Austria:
July 22 - November 2, 2008