THE WINTER PALACE Press kit

Himmelpfortgasse 8 1010

Winter Palace © Belvedere, Vienna

THE WINTER PALACE A Place of International Encounter

Originally built as a lavish stately residence for , then acquired in the eighteenth century by Empress Maria Theresa before being used for the Court Treasury and entre is a centre of art and

The transformation of the staterooms into a museum has made it possible for the Belvedere to

Agnes Husslein-Arco, the director of the Belvedere, points out. Building on the historical legacy and far-reaching impact of the cosmopolitan prince, a further between the town and the garden palace the Winter Palace and the Belvedere. They have now been reunited after more than 260 years. Following the first exhibition, dedicated to the prince on the occasion of his 350th birthday, the main aim is to create a dialogue between cultural heritage and contemporary art an approach that has been realized with great success at some of the wo developed with direct reference to the site and the result is inspiring new artworks created in

he Belvedere.

homes in the best neighbourhoods close to the Imperial Castle, new arrivals needed a good deal of luck and a lot of money in order to be able to settle in the district. The Winter Palace social rise. Having originally arrived at the Habsburg court in 1683 as a penniless refugee, he died in 1736 the owner of several palaces. It is the incredible success story of a self-made man, ce, the prince had he also bought the adjacent plot and in 1696 commissioned the architect Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach to build a seven-bay palace, which, in two later stages, was extended by five bays on either side. A building featuring an impressive exterior was thus created, whose actual richness, however, was only to unfold in subsequent years in its interior. Silk wall coverings, precious stones used for console tables, chandeliers, ceiling paintings and frescoes by famous Italian masters, English silver, Chinese porcelain, and innumerable other treasures created an ambience whose splendour can hardly be imagined today.

ce was acquired by Empress Maria Theresa in 1752 and It is nevertheless a special jewel, which, after comprehensive restoration, is made accessible to the public for the first time: in spite of the reconstruction, a crucial share of the immovable furnishings has survived. A major part, especially the ceiling frescoes in the Audience Chamber and in the State Bedroom, the Gold Cabinet, and the superb grotesque decoration on gold ground, is still apt to fascinate of the collection , emphasizes.

PRINCE EUGENE OF SAVOY General, Philosopher, Art Connoisseur

After a meteoric rise to power and a dazzling career as a general, Prince Eugene of Savoy (1663 1736), Italian by descent and French by birth, became one of the most influential a diplomat and advisor to emperors Leopold I, Joseph I, and Charles VI, he travelled through Europe from one theatre of war to the next, playing a decisive role in determining the future of the . Prince Eugene, the offspring of an Italian noble family, grew up in France and later lived in the region that is modern-day , so that he can be regarded as a truly international or even supranational personality. Travels and military campaigns took him to many countries, and he was always receptive to these different cultures. Diplomats and many other illustrious personalities socialized at his palaces, which resulted in a vibrant clearly reflect these intentions: they encompass paintings by Dutch, Italian, and French masters, precious manuscripts and books, oriental fabrics, Chinese porcelain, and animals and plants from several continents. The prince was able to acquire this wide array of precious objects with the help of an international network of agents and friends, who were well informed about his interests.

BIOGRAPHY Prince Eugene of Savoy

1663 Prince Eugene Franz of Savoy-Carignan is born in Paris on 18 October, as the fifth of seven children to Eugene Moritz of Savoy-Carignan and Olympia Mancini.

1673 His father dies after a short illness under circumstances that were never fully clarified.

1678 Ordained with minor orders by the Papal Nuncio in Turin.

1683

ero invites

1688 Named field marshal-lieutenant. Prince Eugene also becomes lay abbot of two abbeys in Savoy, which provides him with a good source of income but also the obligation to remain celibate.

1693 Named imperial field marshal.

1694/95 Buys the first buildings on Himmelpfortgasse. In addition to the intense building activities that now commence, Prince Eugene continues to build up major collections of paintings, books, engravings as well as plants and a zoo.

1697 Named commander-in-chief of the imperial army in Hungary (5 July). At the Battle of Zenta on 11 September, Prince Eugene has his first success as a commander. His fame as field marshal is subsequently consolidated by a number of further successful military operations. Buys a large plot of land on Rennweg, which is gradually expanded as he acquires more property.

1701 The Battle of Carpi on 9 July marks the first larger military operation in the War of the Spanish Succession. On 1 September, the Battle of Chiari follows.

1702 Battle of (1 February) as well as the Battle of Luzzara (15 August). Begins building the palace in Ráckeve on the Csepel Island (Danube) near Budapest.

1703 Named president of the Imperial War Council.

1704 Battle of Höchstädt (13 August) resulting in a coalition with the English and subsequently a friendship between their commander, the Duke of Marlborough, and Prince Eugene. Terracing works carried out on

1705 Battle of Cassano (16 August), a French victory following a bloody battle.

1706 Relief of Turin (7 September)

1708 Battle of Oudenaarde (11 July) as well as the siege of Lille (10 August to 22 October, citadel falls on 10 December). Construction begins to extend the palace on Himmelpfortgasse by five bays to the east (Gallery Wing).

1709 Siege of Tournai (4 28 July, citadel falls on 3 September) and Battle of Malplaquet (11 September).

1712 Construction of the Lower Belvedere begins.

1714 With the signing of the Treaty of Rastatt (6 March) the War of the Spanish Succession ends.

1716 Named governor of the Austrian Netherlands (until 1724). Battle of Peterwardein (5 August) during the Ottoman-Venetian War.

1717 Battle of Belgrade with a surprise attack launched by Prince Eugene in the night of 16 August. Completion of the Lower Belvedere and construction of the Upper Belvedere begins.

1718 Signing the Treaty of Passarowitz (21 July) not only terminates the Austro-Ottoman War but also puts an end to the enormous threat of the Ottoman Empire to Austrian security.

1724 Prince Eugene is appointed vicar-general of Austrian dominions in Italy.

1723 Completion of the Upper Belvedere, extension of the palace on Himmelpfortgasse by five bays to the west (Library Wing).

1725 Prince Eugene acquires Schloss Hof palace and expands it to create his tusculum rurale.

1731 From this year on, the ten volumes of Belvedere engravings based on drawings by Salomon Kleiner appear. As a supplementary volume the so-called Menagerie work is published to document the animals as well as plants in the Belvedere garden.

1734 The 70-year-old field marshal is appointed commander of the Rhine army in the War of Polish Secession at the insistence of Emperor Charles VI.

1736 Prince Eugene dies at his palace on Himmelpfortgasse in the night of 21 April. The

lace.

THE STATEROOMS IN THE WINTER PALACE

Antechamber

Between 1724 and 1729, the Art of War tapestries from the workshop of Jodocus de Vos were

Blue Room

State Bedroom room. The green velvet wall covering was interspersed with wide borders embroidered with grotesque motifs. This most spacious stateroom also contained a magnificent bed, which served the purpose of ceremony rather than sleeping. The central ceiling fresco by Louis Dorigny features the Marriage of Hercules and Hebe and is surrounded by illusionistic architecture painted by Marcantonio Chiarini.

Red Room

This stateroom, once used as an Audience Chamber, was adorned with red velvet wall coverings. One of its eye-catching features was a hot-air stove representing Hercules Fighting Ladon, the dragon guarding the Garden of the Hesperides (today at Schönbrunn Palace). The ceiling fresco by Andrea Lanzani depicts Hercules Ascending to Olympus and has survived intact.

Yellow Room

A long hall stretching over five window bays, it displayed paintings by artists such as Anthony van Dyck, Peter Paul Rubens, and Guido Reni, as well as two lacquer cabinets. When the remodelling of the palace began in 1752, the room was divided and a false ceiling installed. This still conceals a ceiling fresco of Boreas Abducting Orithyia by Louis Dorigny.

Conference Room

The Conference Room, furnished with a fireplace and a tile stove, still betrays its original function. The walls were covered by tapestries featuring grotesque motifs from the Brussels- based studio of Jodocus de Vos. It is unclear whether the ceiling painting by Paul Strudel, The Victory of Justice over the Unjust Ruler, formed part of the original decoration.

Gold Cabinet

According to the pe Asian porcelain was presented. Parts of the decoration were transferred to the Lower decorated with specially created paintings by Franz Caspar Sambach and Franz Zogelmann.

Library Rooms

Altogether three library rooms, including the so-called Hall of Battle Paintings, highlighting

Emperor Charles VI acquired his books, manuscripts, and prints for the Court Library.

Chapel

The small chapel is an addition dating from the reconstruction started in 1752. The wall paintings are particularly interesting, as they seem to be by the hand of a yet unidentified hapel used to be installed in the rear section of the State Bedroom, but has not survived. It is believed that both the altar and the parquet flooring come from this original chapel.

THE HISTORY OF THE WINTER PALACE

The Winter Palace was built on a to known as Trabothen-Gasse.

First building phase (1696 1698)

The first plot of land was purchased in 1694. Based on plans by the Baroque architect Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach, the first building phase began in 1696 and eventually extended to the adjacent plot, then known as the Stadel (barn), which was acquired in 1702. At this stage, the palace comprised a portal and seven bays, which today form the central section of the Winter Palace and the Grand Staircase.

Second building phase (1708 1711)

In 1703, Prince Eugene acquired another plot, the so-called Ballhaus (ball house). Between 1708 and 1711, architect Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt extended the palace from seven to twelve bays and had a second portal constructed, which today is the doorway on the left.

Third building phase (1723 1724)

After purchasing a fourth plot in 1719, the third building phase began in 1723 and continued through to 1724. The Winter Palace was extended from twelve to seventeen bays, including the early hours of 21 April. His sole heiress was his niece, Anna Victoria of Savoy, who successively sold the movable property; partition walls were introduced to divide the palace. While the newer part, the so-called Kleines Haus (Small House), was rented out, the older section was left empty for eighteen years.

The Winter Palace since 1752

In 1752, Empress Maria Theresa acquired not only the Winter Palace, but also the Belvedere and the palaces of Hof and Niederweiden. Following several renovations and adaptations, the Winter Palace accommodated the Imperial Chamber for Minting and Mining, the Supreme Judicial Authority, and finally the Court Treasury, the institution preceding the Ministry of Finance. Then, starting in 1841, a further period of adaptations culminated in the establishment of the Ministry of Finance at this location in 1848. Major restoration work was undertaken between 1888 and 1890, followed by smaller adaptations in

the years 1913 and 1928. From 1945 to 1947, damage from the Second World War was repaired, and between 1967 and 1973 the staterooms underwent a thorough renovation.

In 2004 the decision to launch a major restoration programme was made under the direction of the Burghauptmannschaft Österreich, responsible for the management and conservation of the completion of these renovations and adaptations. Under the auspices of the Burghauptmannschaft and in agreement with the Federal Monuments Office, the site has been updated while great care was taken to preserve the historic fabric of the building by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach and Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt. In this way, the renovations have tak requirements of a modern, forward-looking administration.

and fourth exhibition venue, the principal rooms state apartments are accessible to the public since October 2013.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Address Himmelpfortgasse 8 1010 Vienna Austria www.belvedere.at

Opening Hours Daily 10 am to 6 pm

Contact Belvedere & Winter Palace Press Department Prinz Eugen-Straße 27 1030 Vienna, Austria T + 43 1 79557-177 M [email protected] www.belvedere.at/press (password: pr2015)