The Museum of Fine Arts in Vienna is the largest art museum in Austria with one of the most impressive displays of artwork in the world. It houses a vast array of rare artistic treasures acquired by the Imperial family of Austria, the Habsburgs, during their reign among many other intriguing artworks.
It is situated on Vienna Ring Road facing the stunning monument of Maria-Theresien-Platz. The building of the museum is a massive palatial complex with an impressive octagonal dome.
On the opposite side of the plaza lies the Natural History Museum, with its exterior absolutely identical to that of this museum.
Many tourists choose to spend their time at the plaza, taking pictures and ogling at its intricate bronze statues of the plaza.
But if you have time and the inclination to see some great art collections, then a visit to the Museum of Fine Arts is a must. And this is exactly what we did...
Inside the museum
As you enter, you are awed by the sheer magnificence of the interiors.
The elaborate sculptures at the top of the Grand Staircase, the intricate panelwork on the sky-high ceiling at the entrance foyer and the beautifully laid-out Mozaic floor will leave you spellbound even before you venture into the museum chambers.
The tour of the museum starts with a visit to the Egyptian collection. Most artefacts owe their origins to the excavations on the rocky plateau of Giza.
My Tip -
The Egyptian collection is really exhaustive.
Please remember that the audio guide is not included in the ticket and is available separately for € 8 each. I would recommend opting for an audio guide, it enhances the experience. There is so much to see all around that one would feel quite lost with a guide to navigate your way through the museum.
Each artefact has a number corresponding to the number on your audio guide. So, you can see the museum at your own pace. You are allowed to take pictures, which is great.
The second part of the museum houses the Collection of Greek and Roman Antiquities.
There are artefacts of Greek ceramic art and Roman art, busts, plates, carved bowls, face masks, Roman portraits and statues, all carved to perfection.
The third and most interesting part of the museum is the Picture Gallery. This is one of the largest art galleries in the world and the majority of it has been developed from the collections of the House of Habsburgs, the reigning monarchs of Austria.
The collection showcases art from the 17th century with beautiful paintings of prominent Italian, German and Venetian painters.
One painting, among many others, that caught my attention was this masterpiece by Guido Cagnacci, Cleopatra's Suicide -
There are many more amazing paintings in the gallery, one more intriguing than the other.
My Tip -
The audio guide gives a detailed narrative of each painting, We sat comfortably on the couch in front of the paintings and listened to the commentary. We spent a good one hour here and it was worth its while.
Another interesting section of the museum is the Coin Collection. With almost 600,000 collectables, this is one of the most important coin collections in the world.
Every possible kind of money, metallic, paper and medallions are displayed here. The history of the invention of coins and their adaptability to the times has been put on display very nicely.
On the ground floor of the museum is the Kunstkammer Wien, or The Cradle of the Museum.
There are over 2200 beautiful artworks on display here, stunning artworks studded with precious stones, ornate clocks, bronze statuettes and so many other exotic and strange objects.
Let me close by saying that most people visiting museums are not connoisseurs of art. In my opinion, one doesn't have to be one to appreciate beauty, in whichever form one sees it.
I would highly recommend a visit to this museum while in Vienna, since this museum with its magnificent exteriors and opulent interiors, is the epitome of man-made beauty!
Comments