Art Museum
Albertina
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
Albertina is an art museum in Vienna, Austria.
About Albertina
Overview & Identity
The Albertina is a premier art museum located in the Innere Stadt (First District) of Vienna, Austria, situated on the Augustinerbastei, one of the last surviving sections of the city's fortifications built after the Turkish siege of 1529. It is globally renowned for housing one of the largest and most important print rooms in the world, containing approximately 65,000 drawings and one million old master prints, alongside modern graphic works, photographs, and architectural drawings. The museum also holds significant permanent loan collections of Impressionist and early 20th-century art. In 2025, the museum recorded 1,037,347 visitors, ranking it among the most-visited art museums globally. The institution operates under the directorship of Ralph Gleis and serves as a central hub for the study and exhibition of graphic arts.
History & Founding
The Graphic Art Collection was founded in 1776 by Duke Albert of Saxe-Teschen (Albert Casimir) in collaboration with Count Giacomo Durazzo, the Austrian ambassador in Venice. Durazzo presented nearly 1,000 pieces to the Duke and his wife, Maria Christina, with the intention of creating an encyclopedic collection for education and moral instruction. The collection was administered and expanded by Albert's successors, including Archduke Carl and Archduke Albrecht, until 1920. Following the fall of the monarchy, the building and collection were confiscated by the Austrian government in early 1919 without compensation to Archduke Friedrich. In December 1920, the collection was united with the holdings of the former Imperial Court Library by governmental decree, forming the core of the state-owned Albertina Museum.
Building & Architecture
The museum is housed in a palace originally built in the second half of the 17th century as the Hofbauamt (Court Construction Office). In 1744, it was converted into a palace by Emanuel Teles Count Silva-Tarouca. Duke Albert acquired the building and had it extended between 1801 and 1805 by the Belgian architect Louis Montoyer, creating a long wing facing the Burggarten. The interior rooms were decorated according to designs by Joseph Kornhäusel, ranking among the most precious examples of Neoclassical art in Austria. The building was heavily damaged by USAAF bomb attacks in March 1945 and subsequently rebuilt. A major modernization from 1998 to 2003 included the construction of a new four-floor underground structure by Steinmayer & Mascher for storage and study, and a distinctive roof by Hans Hollein was added in 2008.
Collection Highlights & Notable Holdings
The collection offers a panoramic survey of 600 years of art history, featuring works from the late Gothic period to the present. Notable holdings include drawings by Michelangelo, Albrecht Dürer (such as his watercolor 'The Large Piece of Turf'), Rembrandt, and Rubens. The museum also possesses significant works by Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, and Pablo Picasso. In the 21st century, the museum expanded its focus to include modern and contemporary art, acquiring works by artists such as Gerhard Richter and Maria Lassnig. The collection also includes the 'Stosch Atlas' of architectural facades and over 100 architectural models from the Vienna Technical University, featuring works by Le Corbusier and Mies van der Rohe.
Significance & Legacy
The Albertina is recognized as one of the most important institutions for graphic arts globally, serving as a vital resource for research and public education. Its encyclopedic scope, conceived by Duke Albert with an educational orientation, set a precedent for modern museum practices. The museum's significance was further enhanced by the digital recording of its entire drawing and watercolor collection launched in 1999. In 2020, the museum opened 'Albertina Modern' at the Künstlerhaus to accommodate its growing contemporary collection, sharing the renovated building with the Austrian Artists' Society. The institution continues to play a critical role in the restitution of artworks acquired during the Nazi era and maintains a commitment to expanding its holdings of Austrian art and international contemporary works.
Plan your visit
Albertina
- Website
- www.albertina.at