The Paintings Gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts is an absolute insider tip for a visit to Vienna. Compared to the large museums, the collection of the Academy of Fine Arts is manageable in size and, on top of that, remarkable.
The Academy originally goes back to an imperial foundation at the end of the 17th century. But it was only in 1822 that Count Lamberg Sprinzenstein bequeathed its unique collection to it. This collection consists of 800 paintings of the highest quality.
In the Paintings Gallery you get to see unique works by the great Dutch and Flemish masters of the 17th century. Here Rembrandt, van Dyck and Rubens meet in an almost intimate setting. But Murillo’s dice-playing children are also part of the collection. A particular highlight of the Paintings Gallery, however, is the legendary Last Judgement altarpiece by Hieronymus Bosch.
In keeping with the building of the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts at Schillerplatz near the Opernring, representatives of Viennese Classicism can also be seen in the Paintings Gallery. You can admire paintings by Titian and Cranach here as well.
Fittingly, the Academy building is designed in the Classicist style and goes back to a design by the architect Theophil Hansen.
Since July 2017 the Academy building has been undergoing extensive renovation, which is why the Paintings Gallery is temporarily on display in the Theatermuseum at Lobkowitzplatz.
Here the Academy of Fine Arts also holds temporary exhibitions by contemporary artists.
