Albertina

The Albertina is an art museum in the Palais of Archduke Albrecht in the city center of Vienna. It houses one of the most important print rooms in the world with a circumference of approximately 65,000 drawings and over one million graphic prints. The scope of the issued and archived exhibits ranges from late Gothic to contemporary art. Lenders allow the Albertina, the permanent presentation of paintings; in several exhibition halls interdisciplinary art exhibitions are held. The name " Albertina " comes from the founder of the graphic collection, Duke Albert Casimir of Sachsen- Teschen, son of Empress Maria Theresa.

History

The graphic collection by Duke Albert was in the seventies of the 18th century in the castle Bratislava (Slovak: Bratislava ) is created, where he resided from 1765 to 1781 as governor of Maria Theresa in her capacity as King of Hungary.

The founding document of the art collection dates July 4, 1776. Fact that the date coincides with the Declaration of Independence of the United States, is pure coincidence. 1795 Duke Albert took over the formerly known as Palais Taroucca building on the Vienna city walls, later the Palais of Archduke Albrecht, and left it to his needs rebuilt accordingly. 1822, the year of death of the Duke, in a major collection first opened to the public. In contrast to other collections that were reserved for the nobility, the visit was only hope and expectation that the visitor must have their own shoes. For a large part of the population at that time was indeed still excluded, the district visitors but still noticeably expanded.

After Albert's death, the collection such as the palace was his heir Archduke Charles, subsequently taken over by the Archdukes Albrecht and Friedrich last. During this time, the further expansion of the graphic collection was performed. She no longer was at that time, however, as well as the Palace in the private possession of an Archduke, but was part of the Habsburg family funds that were taken with the Habsburg Law of 1919 compensation in the possession of the Republic of Austria.

In April 1919, building and collection therefore passed into the possession of the Republic. In 1920 the collection with the holdings of prints of the former imperial court library was pooled. Since 1921 building and gathering are officially the name Albertina.

The Albertina was for decades a few hours per day to the public ( in 1936 27 hours per week, 1959: 35 hours per week ) and reported low visitor numbers. Your academic head laid on her character study much more value than the effect of the collection to the general public. The fact that many graphics could be suspended for reasons of conservation rarely the light, significantly contributed to this attitude. 1962-1986 served as director Walter Koschatzky, who wrote many historical and artistic works of the graphic arts.

A significant change occurred in 2001 a when Klaus Albrecht Schröder, designated in 1999 to director of public scientific institution defined as of January 1, 2000 the institution was. He wanted to take advantage of the prominent location of the Albertina for purposes not limited to graphic exhibitions and won to private partners and Dauerleihgeber. The house therefore called since then no longer Graphic Collection Albertina, but only Albertina. It is now one of the most visited sights of Vienna and was opened in 2011 59 hours per week.

Painters and buyers, Pieter Bruegel the Elder 1565

From 1996 to 2003, the Albertina was closed to the public and has been completely redesigned. At the same time, a low memory with 5,000 cubic meters was built, which does not affect the cityscape. With the redesign of the entrance Hans Hollein was commissioned. Especially the so-called " Soravia Wing", a striking flying roof, stood at the center of controversial and a majority rather critical media attention. Originally, the Albertina should be re-opened in 2002. However, the discovery of a Roman cemetery with over 130 graves delayed the conversion.

With heavy rains in June 2009 water penetrated into the depth buffer. The detectors had indeed recognized the entry of water, but by that the robots were paralyzed. In order to avoid major damage had to be relocated 950,000 collection objects.

Collections

The Albertina was originally home to three collections:

• The graphic collection of approximately 41,000 drawings and watercolors, 300 sketchbooks and 900,000 printed graphic sheets ( inventory 1998)
• The Architectural Collection with some 43,000 works on paper ( architectural and construction drawings, plans and printing units ), and original architectural models, architectural replicas ( Inv. 2000)
• The photo collection of over 50,000 photographs, photographic apparatus and collected works ( Inv. 2000)

Today, works by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Peter Paul Rubens, Oskar Kokoschka, Rembrandt, Albrecht Durer, Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele can be examined in the collection accessible. In addition to the permanent exhibits, temporary exhibitions are repeatedly carried out, as in 2006, Pablo Picasso, Vincent van Gogh 2008 and 2011, René Magritte.

In the spring of 2007, the Albertina also received the previously based in Salzburg " Batliner Collection " as unrestricted permanent loan. The collection of Rita and Herbert Batliner includes important works by modern masters, from French impressionism to German expressionism of the " Blue Rider " and the " bridge " to works of the Fauvist or the Russian avant-garde from Chagall to Malevich.

Others

The Albertina was until the end of 2001, when the euro was introduced as cash, pictured on the back of the 20 -shilling note.

Film

• The Albertina in Vienna. Documentary, Germany, 2010, 29:30 min, written and directed by Martina Klug, Production: SWR, 3sat, first broadcast June 27, 2010, Series: Museum Check with Markus Brock, Summary and video of 3sat, with Alf POIER.