We visited the Belvedere in 2010 and were not overly impressed. In 2022, we figured, we had learned a great deal more art history and should give the Belvedere another shot. What you get from such visits depends a great deal on what you bring to them, right? So we visited on October 23rd and indeed appreciated far more than in 2010. But still not overly impressed: we're just not into the Klimt/Schiele/expressionist thing. But there was plenty else to appreciate.
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| A big complex, outside the Ring, on high ground, a position the field marshal would choose |
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| The palace, now mostly the museum |
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| Lots of neo-classicla/Baroque sculpture, including half a dozen atlantines not included the Vienna caryatid post |
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| Prince Eugene of Savoy: Louis XIV considered him too short and ugly to be of military use, so he volunteered his services to the Habsburgs, first driving the Turks out of Austria, and then, with Marlborough, defeating Louis' forces at Blenheim; Belvedere was his reward, just as Blenheim was Marlborough's |
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| Helpful model |
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| White, white, white is the color of our entry hall |
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| Baroque, Baroque, Baroque... |
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| The treaty that established Austria as an independent republic, in May of 1955, was signed by the Great Powers, here |
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| And announced from this very balcony |
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| And now, on to the art collection: Hans Makart, The Five Seasons, 1872-1879; wait, no, The Five Elements |
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Edward Munch, Men on the Seashore, 1908 |
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| Monet, The
Chef, 1882; why Monet didn't do portraits; had a big bill at the restaurant... |
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| Another nice Monet...alas, I didn't get the title |
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August Rodin, Gustav Mahler,1909 |
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Gustav Klimt, Fritza Riedler, 1906 |
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Klimt, Adam and Eve, 1917-1918 |
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| Klimt, The Smooch, 1908; at the height of his gold period; the Judith was apparently on loan somewhere |
