Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna
‘The temple of art’ is the expression that describes the Art History Museum in Vienna the best. Even its architecture designed in the best traditions of historicism combines the details of temples from the three key Western cultures. This is the place where you will find all gods and heroes of the West European art Olympus, such as Arcimboldo, Brueghel, Velasquez, Holbein, Dürer, Giorgione, Cranach, Raphael, Rembrandt, Rubens, Titian (listed in alphabetical order).
As any Western museum proclaiming itself universal, Kunsthistorisches Museum also features collections of Egyptian, Greek, and Roman art, as well as a numismatic cabinet. Moreover, a quarter of the exhibition space of the museum is occupied by the Cabinets of curiosities, a mixed exposition of indoor sculpture, church plate, decorative elements, and scientific instruments; all in all, everything considered unique and of special value.
The museum’s curators have drawn up an informative list for visitors; including 700 masterpieces for local art lovers, 100 for recurring visitors, and 35 “must-see” pieces for newbies. With this art tour we follow the curators’ short list and take a very close look at globally celebrated masterpieces, from varying perspectives to understand what makes each art piece so very special.