Vienna: The Albertina … Prunkräume

One of the many highly recommended places to visit in Vienna is The Albertina … in Vienna’s Innere Stadt [First District].

I had — on purpose — not pre-purchased tickets to this art museum. One, because I didn’t want each day to be driven by timed-entry tickets. But also because I had read in numerous sources that it is a lesser-visited museum … based on our experience as the day progressed, however, I’d be hard-pressed to agree with that statement.

Anyway, we took the U1 line from near the river cruise docks to Stephanplatz and walked the short distance to the museum. It was 9:00a … still an hour to kill before the doors opened. So, we went for a stroll around the area, circling back to the museum a few minutes before 10:00a. Only two people waiting for the doors to open. “Good,” I thought. But things changed quickly. Moments later, a long queue was forming behind us.

When the doors opened, I went to check our daypack and jackets; Mui went to buy our tickets … senior rate. When I joined him, we decided to head up to the 2nd floor of the museum and work our way down.

The art was great … and we thoroughly enjoyed seeing the various galleries filled with amazing works. But the Prunkräume [State Rooms], included in our admission, were a highlight as well. I will focus on the State Rooms in this footprint.

The building in which the museum is housed is the largest Habsburg residential palace from the 1740s … known then as Tarouca Palace. For a while, it was home to Archduchess Marie-Christine, said to be the favorite daughter of Empress Maria Theresa. Marie-Christine’s husband, Duke Albert, began the collection that forms the basis of what is on display in the galleries of The Albertina. You will have noticed that he is also the namesake of the museum.

Heavy bombing during WWII destroyed a considerable section of the palace. Thus, many of the rooms one sees today are restored — but historically accurate — and most of the furnishings are original to the palace.

Our meander took us through bedrooms, ballrooms, studies and more … all with silk wall coverings in various colors, glittering crystal chandeliers, ceilings with gilded details, marquetry floors that are works of art in themselves, and more.

My favorites of all the rooms were the Gold Cabinet … gilded entirely in Albertina Gold (an alloy of 23-karat gold; 1/2 karat silver; 1/2 karat copper); the Wedgwood Cabinet … its walls depicting classical scenes and featuring Wedgwood inserts; and the Hall of the Muses … brilliantly lit with chandeliers reflected in the mirrors and featuring statues of Apollo and his nine muses.

Next up … the art at The Albertina.Читать далее