Art Museum
Liechtenstein Museum
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
Liechtenstein Museum is an art museum in Vienna, Austria.
About Liechtenstein Museum
Overview
The Liechtenstein Museum was a public institution operated by the Princely Family of Liechtenstein, showcasing one of the world's largest and most valuable private art collections. Established in Vienna, the museum utilized two distinct palaces: the Garden Palace (Gartenpalais) in the 9th district and the City Palace (Stadtpalais) in the Innere Stadt. The institution presented masterpieces spanning five centuries, including significant works from the Renaissance and Baroque periods, before ceasing regular public operations in 2011 due to low visitor numbers.
History & Founding
The roots of the collection date back to the early 18th century when Prince Johann Adam Andreas von Liechtenstein commissioned the Garden Palace. The building served as a venue for the family's art holdings from 1805 until the Anschluss in 1938, at which point the collection was moved to Liechtenstein to avoid wartime damage. In the post-war era, the Garden Palace housed the Bauzentrum and later the Museum of the 20th Century. The specific entity known as the 'Liechtenstein Museum' was formally established in 2004, integrating the Garden Palace and the City Palace to display the family's holdings to the public.
Architecture & Buildings
The museum operated across two major Baroque palaces. The Garden Palace, built in the early 1700s on Fürstengasse, was designed by Domenico Egidio Rossi with a mix of city and country house elements in the Roman style. Its interior features décor by artists such as Marcantonio Franceschini, Antonio Bellucci, Andrea Pozzo, and Johann Michael Rottmayr. The City Palace, located at Bankgasse 9 in the Innere Stadt, was constructed between 1692 and 1705 by architects Domenico Martinelli and Gabriele Gabrieli. Both structures survived World War II, with the City Palace later undergoing restoration in 2013.
The Museum Era (2004–2011)
From March 29, 2004, until the end of 2011, the Liechtenstein Museum operated as a public institution, offering guided tours and events in both the Garden and City Palaces. The museum aimed to display the Princely Collections' paintings and sculptures to a wider audience. However, in November 2011, it was announced that regular museum operations would be discontinued in January 2012 due to insufficient visitor numbers. Following this closure, the name 'Liechtenstein Museum' was retired, and the palaces were repurposed primarily for exclusive events and private viewings.
Collection Highlights & Notable Holdings
The collection featured masterpieces from the 16th to the 18th centuries, including Raphael's 'Portrait of a Man' and Rubens' 'Mars and Rhea Silvia'. Other significant works included Valentin de Boulogne's 'A Musical Company with a Fortune-Teller', François Duquesnoy's sculpture 'Mercury', and Sebastiano Ricci's 'Rape of the Sabine Women'. The holdings also encompassed the Golden carriage of Joseph Wenzel I of Liechtenstein from 1738. The collection is recognized as one of the largest private art collections globally, with its main base currently in Vaduz.
Current Status & Significance
Since the discontinuation of regular museum operations in 2012, the palaces are no longer open for daily public visits. The Garden Palace is now used for exclusive events and booked guided tours, while the City Palace houses the 19th-century portion of the princely collection following its 2013 restoration. The artworks from the 16th to 18th centuries remain associated with the Garden Palace but are displayed only during special occasions like the Long Night of Museums or for registered groups. The site remains a significant historic landmark owned by the House of Liechtenstein.
Plan your visit
Liechtenstein Museum
- Website
- www.palaisliechtenstein.com