They are among the most beautiful private art collections in the world – and they are now on display for the first time in Switzerland: over 200 masterpieces from the Princely Collections will be presented at the Museum of Fine Arts in Bern starting on 12 November.
The Princes of Liechtenstein have been passionate art collectors for over 400 years. This passion has given rise to one of the most important private collections, with major works of European art spanning five centuries. The Princely Collections reside in the City Palace and the Garden Palace in Vienna, as well as in Vaduz Castle.
Selected masterpieces are also regularly on display at special international exhibits – most recently and with much success in several countries in Asia as well as in Russia, France and most recently in Salzburg.
From this Saturday, 12 November, until 19 March 2017, the Princely Collections will be exhibited for the first time in Switzerland. Sponsored by LGT, they are opening their chamber of treasures for a unique exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts in Bern.
From Rubens to van Dyck
Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn, 1634
Over 200 masterpieces from the immense collection were selected for the exhibit in Bern. A representative cross-section of the treasures of the Princes of Liechtenstein will be presented on two floors of the gallery. Eighteen rooms, arranged according to theme, will give visitors an insight into different focal points of the collections, for example princely self-representation, portraiture, religious themes, mythology, still lifes and landscape paintings.
Paintings, sculptures, furniture and craftwork, among others, by Masters such as Peter Paul Rubens, Adriaen van Ostade, Pieter Brueghel, Jacques Jordaens and Athonis van Dyck will be on display.
The exhibit aims to provide visitors with a representative impression of the scope of the collections as well as to highlight certain individual pieces. Because not only are the five centuries of art history impressive, the stories behind the individual pieces are also fascinating – the most interesting thereof will be told as part of the exhibit in Bern.
Johann Peter Krafft, 1820
Promotion of the Fine Arts
The Princely Collections today comprise around 1700 paintings and sculptures, with masterpieces from the Early Renaissance through to Austrian Romanticism, as well as important works of graphic art, pietra dura objects, porcelain, tapestries and furniture that once adorned the castles and palaces of the Princely House of Liechtenstein.
The Princely Collections have their roots in the Baroque ideal of patronage, in which patrons considered it their duty to promote the fine arts. The Princely House of Liechtenstein has cultivated this ideal over many generations.
To this day, the Princely Family continues to consistently add to its collections. Artworks of the finest quality are carefully selected to enrich and expand the collections in keeping with their existing focal points.
LGT's Commitment
Like earlier special exhibits, the show in Bern is sponsored by LGT, which is also owned by the Princely Family of Liechtenstein. Very much in the spirit of the owner family, LGT is also committed to supporting and promoting the arts and culture.
Thomas Piske, CEO LGT Private Banking: «For us, the works of art in the Princely Collections embody many values that we also strive for in our partnership with our clients. A long-term approach, individual perspectives, as well as expertise and reliability when it comes to building and managing wealth.»
