LGT VADU Z How art exemplifies our values 1 2 LGT VADU Z How art exemplifies our values LGT Bank Ltd., Herrengasse 12, FL-9490 Vaduz, www.lgt.li 3 Publisher LGT Bank Ltd., Herrengasse 12, FL-9490 Vaduz Concept, layout and editorial office Birgit Schmidt, Art Historian, Vienna LGT Group Marketing & Communications Translation Syntax Translations Ltd, Thalwil Print BVD Druck+Verlag AG, Schaan Lithographer Prepair Druckvorstufen AG, Schaan Picture credits LIECHTENSTEIN. The Princely Collections, Vaduz–Vienna Paul Trummer, TravelLightart, Mauren Cover image Bauer brothers, Hortus Botanicus, detail from “Lilium candidum L.,” c. 1778 4 Contents Editorial 5 Lasting values 6 Successful art collectors and asset managers have similar qualities in common. Renaissance 8 Drawing inspiration from newly discovered artifacts and architecture from the ancient world, new ways of seeing the human form and the natural world find their way into art. Side story: Self-portrait of the artist 16 Baroque 19 Architecture, painting and sculpture are characterized by a strong sense of movement and sensuous extravagance. Side story: The dispute over the carriage 23 Classicism 34 As in the Renaissance, artists turn to the aesthetics of the ancient world for their touchstones. Elegance, grace and restraint are regarded as the ideals of the time. Side story: The Chinese pavilion 40 Biedermeier 48 The seemingly commonplace and the idyllic private sphere become the focus of attention. Artists look to nature and the wonders of reality for inspiration. Side story: Shared experiences of nature 60 5 6 Dear Client, Over the past few centuries, our family has built up a unique collection of artworks which we employ quite consciously in our marketing and communications strategy for LGT. To us, these works of art embody many values that we also strive to uphold in our partnerships with our clients: a long-term approach and business outlook, and individual perspectives coupled with expertise and reliability when it comes to building and managing investments. In 2014 and 2015, we undertook a complete renovation of the client area in our Vaduz headquarters, where murals and repro- ductions of numerous works held in the Princely Collections are now exhibited for our clients to see and enjoy. We are now delighted to present you with this book, which provides an overview of the works exhibited and of the periods from which they originate. H.S.H. Prince Philipp von und zu Liechtenstein Chairman LGT H.S.H. Prince Max von und zu Liechtenstein CEO LGT H.S.H. Prince Philipp von und zu Liechtenstein (left) and H.S.H. Prince Max von und zu Liechtenstein (right) 7 Lasting values The Princes of Liechtenstein have been passionate collectors of art for over 400 years. During this time they have built one of the world’s most significant private collections of major European artworks spanning five hundred years. This collection now resides in the family’s own Liechtenstein Garden Palace in Vienna. The Princely Collections have their roots in the Baroque ideal of patronage, in which patrons felt it their duty to promote the fine arts. The House of Liechtenstein has cultivated this ideal over many generations, and, to this day, our family continues to add to its collections within the framework of an active acquisition policy. Artworks of the finest quality are carefully selected to enrich and expand the collections in keeping with their existing focal themes. Successful art collectors and asset managers have certain quali- ties in common: they have to plan and act with long-term vision and perspective, and they must have discipline and competence. One of the most important skills of a collector is the ability to recognize the true value and lasting distinction of a work of art, both as a piece in its own right as well as in the context of an existing collection. This attribute is also evident in asset man- agement – the ability to recognize the inherent value as well as the risks of an investment, within the context of the portfolio. Anyone who wishes to be a successful collector of art will inevitably de- velop his or her own perspective and “signature.” Each collector, after all, has a unique vision which he or she wishes to express. This individual perspective is also the key factor in enabling us to advise our clients on their investments with consistent regard to their own personal goals and circumstances. 8 The reproductions and murals in our headquarters show some of the major works in the Princely Collections from the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical and Biedermeier periods. The works exhibited are introduced here in the context of the particular epoch to which each one belongs. 9 10 Renaissance The term “all’antica” – in the antique style – was the watchword of Renaissance art. In 15th-century Italy, a growing interest in the works of Greek and Roman architects, sculptors and poets brought with it a recognition of the special characteristics of antiquity. This creative movement centered initially round Florence as a thriving hub of trade and banking, but soon spread to the regions north of the Alps; the flowering of this new body of thought was due in no small part to the artists’ penchant for travel. The archaeological excavations in Rome brought buildings and sculptures to light that engendered a particular fascination for their designs and forms. Antiquity epitomized longevity thanks to its influence down the ages. In all genres of art, a wealth of discoveries fueled a desire to refine the portrayal of the human form and expand creative possibilities. The physical form was represented in lifelike motion and modeled on nude statues for the most part, while architects drew inspiration for their designs from the perfectly proportioned temples, and painters looked to the natural world for their subjects. These newly gained insights into the harmonious effects created by proportion, balance and realism were also echoed in scholarly writings on art, which conveyed the notion that artists regarded their profession as equal to a science, and that their aim was to capture and document the fruits of detailed studies of perspective, anatomy and reality. This new perspective of the arts was accompanied by the investi- gation and comprehension of nature, exemplified by the supreme and all-inclusive genius of Leonardo da Vinci – the “master of all masters.” Nature and landscape served as sources of inspiration as well as atmosphere, and played an important part in the har- mony of the overall composition. Hendrik van Steenwyck, detail from “Grand columned hall with procession to the tournament,” 1598 11 New status for the artists Hand in hand with the values of the ancients that were imparted through Greek and Roman literature came a new level of esteem for the artistic professions. The individuality of their works pro- pelled artists to a new social status. Intellectuals and artists alike were drawn to the royal courts, which were regarded as centers of knowledge and good taste. These were places where experiences could be shared and creative possibilities discussed. In line with patrons’ sophisticated specifications and the elevated educational level that came with aristocracy and nobility, distinguished and celebrated artists interpreted ancient sagas of gods and heroes, and left a legacy of complex allegories in the pursuit of allusion through symbols. These symbols held secrets and hidden mean- ings that pointed to personality and character – most of which remain a mystery to our modern understanding. Franz Anton von Scheidel, detail from “Illustrations of Scallops after Johann Carl Megerle von Mühlfeld,” before 1801 Bauer brothers, Hortus Botanicus, detail from “Amaranthus,” 1776/1804 12 Bauer brothers, Hortus Botanicus, “Cucurbita foliis lobatis pomis laevibus,” 1779 The portrait was required to depict its subject realistically, and to record his or her appearance and nobility for posterity. The German Renaissance artist Hans Mielich painted full-length portraits in keeping with a tradition that was very popular in Italy as well as north of the Alps (p. 13). The details he painted from nature and real life – a leopard, the room’s interior, the view over a snow-cov- ered landscape – were important symbols which he employed in his depiction of Ladislaus von Fraunberg, Count of Haag, as an influential figure in his natural surroundings. Mielich’s recording of minutiae in this work reflects the attention to detail of the 15th-century Dutch masters. Through his use of light and color, he gives the impression of plasticity, spaciousness and an almost tangible quality to the surfaces. 13 “…a tiger-like animal, always by his side like a dog.” Gundacar of Liechtenstein on the leopard of Ladislaus of Fraunberg, a gift from his Italian relatives, 1640 Hans Mielich, detail from “Portrait of Ladislaus of Fraunberg, Count of Haag,” 1557 14 15 Counter hall, ground floor, LGT Vaduz 16 Nature as a source of inspiration Hendrik van Steenwyck pursued the techniques developed in Florence for creating the illusion of depth and perspective, and established himself as a skilled specialist in Dutch architectural paintings. His compositions reflected Flemish tastes, adjusting his backdrop-like arrangements according to the specifications of the commission, and making apposite changes to the format, figures and scenes which animated the paintings (p. 8). In the art world of the north, a penchant for the precise study of flora and fauna was cultivated, and these subjects were also favored as details in the compositions. Leonardo da Vinci and Albrecht Dürer had already declared nature to be a source of artistic inspiration, and many painters now sought to record the characteristics of the animal and plant worlds in template drawings. These offered the masters the opportunity to reuse their studies in subsequent compositions. Plants, flowers and animals were also symbolic and were employed as special motifs to enrich the narratives.