Our Editor Visits The Residenzgalerie Salzburg In Austria ~ First a Palace ~ Now A Fine Art Museum

Written by Bruce Cleveland Thursday, 27 January 2011 23:25

The buildings goes back in time to 1120, the stucco ceiling in the northern gallery spaces were Archbishop Franz Anton Harrach Prince, who used such spaces as an audience and living room, ordered. End of the 18th Century has used the story of Archbishop Hieronymus Count Colloredo, the first time to set up the archbishop's collection of paintings. This reference to the history of Salzburg was the establishment of the museum is an essential aspect for the province of Salzburg. This opulent palace, just north of Domplatz in the pedestrian zone, was the seat of the Salzburg prince-archbishops after they no longer needed the protection of the gloomy Hohensalzburg Fortress of Mönchsberg. It's baroque stylings formed the model for much of the architecture that followed, making Salzburg one of the most richly baroque cities of Europe. The Residenz dates from 1120, but work on a series of palaces, which comprised the ecclesiastical complex of the ruling church princes, began in the late 1500s and continued until about 1796. The lavish rebuilding which created the current museum was originally ordered by Archbishop Wolfgang (usually called "Wolf") Dietrich. The 17th century Residenz fountain is one of the largest and most impressive baroque fountains north of the Alps. The child prodigy Mozart often played in the Conference Room for guests. In 1867, Emperor Franz Josef received Napoleon III at the Residenz. More than a dozen state rooms, each richly decorated, are open to the public via guided tour, including the particularly impressive Carabinieri Saal. Its ceiling is decorated with impressive frescoes by Martino Altomonte. Painted in 1710, the cycle depicts scenes from the Battle of Granikos (Granicus), Alexander the Great’s first major victory over the Persians in 334 BC. The ceiling of the hall is also decorated with allegorical frescoes depicting the Four Elements by the baroque painter Johann Michael Rottmayr. This state owned gallery provides a cross-section of painting from the 16th to the 18th centuries, as well as 19th century Austrian painting. It bears similarities with the extensive painting collection of Prince-Archbishop Hieronymus Colloredo, which was first exhibited during his era (late 18th century) in rooms that are now the Residenzgalerie. After 1800, however, it was repeatedly plundered during the French Wars. In the age of the monarchy, many works of art were transferred from Salzburg to Vienna. Visit the museum's website at : www.residenzgalerie.at

The Residenzgalerie was opened in 1923 on the second floor of the building. Founded immediately upon the end of the monarchy, it was intended to fulfil various functions: to replace the art collection of the archbishop-princes, to serve as a collection for study purposes in the planned (but never realised) academy of art, and not least to boost tourism by offering another cultural attraction besides the Salzburg Festival. On its founding, the museum did not own a single piece of art and had to rely on donations. Since then, it has assembed an impressive collection, most of which the museum owns. The centrepiece of the Residenzgalerie is the collection of Count Johann Rudolf Czernin von und zu Chudenitz, who studied law in Salzburg and was related to Archbishop Hieronymus Colloredo. This was augmented when, in 1956 the gallery acquired, on permanent loan, works from the collection of Friedrich Karl, Count Schönborn-Buchheim (1674–1746), featuring mostly Dutch and Italian artists of the 17th century. The gallery is located in the east wing of the Residenz and that of the Bel Etage. In the 15 historic rooms, baroque paintings from Flemish, Dutch, French, Italian and Austrian artists are accompanied by Austrian 19th-century works. Self-guided audio tours are included in the admission. The Residenzgalerie's art collection focuses on Dutch, Flemish, French, Italian and Austrian baroque works as well as 19th century Austrian works, including; Flemish works by Joachim Beuckelaer, Brouwer Adriaen, Jan Brughel the elder, Frans Francken II and III, Hieronymus Francken II, Cornelis de Heem, Pieter Neef the younger and Peter Paul Rubens; Dutch works by Aelbert Cuyp, Gerard Dou, Carel Fabritus, Jan van Goyen,Jan Davidsz de Heem, Adriaen van Ostade, Jacob Isaacksz van Ruisdael, Salomon van Ruysdael, Jan Weenix the younger, Emanuel de Witte, Paulus Potter and Hermensz van Rijn Rembrandt; French works by Francois Boucher, Gaspard Dughet, Charles le Brun, Jacques Philippe de Loutherbourg, Hubert Robert, Claude Joseph Vernet and Claude Vignon; Italian works by Federico Barocci, Battista Dossi, Luca Giordano, Giovanni Battista Piazzetta, Francesco Solimena and Bernardo Strozzi; Austrian baroque collection including works by Bartolomeo Monte Alto, Champion Donauschule, Franz Anton Maulbertsch, Kaspar Memberger the elder, Johann Georg Platzer, Johann Michael Rottmayr and Paul Troges; and 19th century Austrian art includes works by Friedrich von Amerling, Heinrich Buerkel, Michael Moritz Daffinger, Josef Danhauser, Thomas Ender, Johann Fishbach, Anton Hanschellen, Friedrich Loos, Hans Makart, Anton Romako, Robert Russ, Franz Steinfeld and Ferdinand Georg Waldmuller.

Two exhibitions are currently on view at the Residenzgalerie. "The splendor" (until 26th June 2011) displays four centuries worth of the Residenz' collection in a single location. Marking the occasion of the publication of a two-volume painting directory (published in July 2010), the exhibition brings together artworks from the Czernin collection, one of the most precious treasures of Austria. Works featured include masterpieces from the 17th century flowering of Dutch painting by artists such as Rembrandt, Paul Potter, Jan van Goyen, Aelbert Cuyp, Jacob Isaacksz. van Ruisdael, Salomon Ruysdael, Jan Davidsz. Heem, Cornelis de Heem, Peter Paul Rubens and many more. Italian, French, and Austrian Baroque painters like Luca Giordano, Guercino, Franz Anton Maulbertsch, Paul Troger, François Boucher and Hubert Robert lead the viewer into a world full of drama, bouncing life, ascetic spirituality and delicate gallantry. Rounding out the collection of works by Austrian masters of the 19th Century, such as Friedrich Amerling, Josef Danhauser, Waldmüller and Hans Makart. Simultaneously, the gallery is showing "Paintings for Christmas (until 6th February 2011), a collection of works with a Christmas theme. Works include the proclamation of the Nativity, the Adoration of the shepherds and kings, the offering of the Son of God in the Temple and the Flight to Egypt by artists including: Joos van Cleve, Anton Mozart, Caspar de Crayer, Simon de Vos, Carlo Saraceni, Battista Dossi, Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini, Giovanni Battista Gaulli, called Baciccio, Pierre Subleyras, Louis de Licheri Beuron, Sébastien Bourdon, Michel Corneille, Johann Michael Rottmayr, Moritz von Schwind and Peter Candid.