Art Stories

Each of the stories added here periodically explores a single work of art. The themes range from warmth of heart to courage and peace, cruelty, weakness, and war.

If the creations of human hand and brain presented here spark your interest, then why not visit the originals in the galleries of Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.

Our current themes here are: #Moments, objects, stories from the 125-year history of Kunsthistorisches Museum, images of the Virgin Mary, explored from the perspective of the portrayed: #I am Mary and #The Face of Europe.

#The Face of Europe

Würde und Respekt

Nasser Stoff auf weicher, fester Haut, elegante Pose, sensible Falten in Stein – Aphrodite lehnt, inzwischen (aber selbstverständlich nicht ursprünglich) kopflos und ohne Arme an einem Baumstamm (?)....

#The Face of Europe

Es ist ein Kreuz

Der Tod und das Leiden Jesu sind Ausgangspunkt des christlichen Glaubens und universelle Projektionsfläche alltäglicher Frömmigkeit. Mit der Auferstehung triumphierte Jesus über den Tod. Das Kreuz...

#The Face of Europe

A delicate relationship

Love and war are presented here as a couple, but in between the two, Amor, the winged god of love, has seemingly staked out a secure place. As long as he remains there, peace reigns. The crucial,...

#The Face of Europe

Furor

Lunging vigorously forward on his long legs, an emaciated figure strides before the viewer.Everything is in a state of agitation: limbs look as light as a feather, the loincloth as though it has a...

#The Face of Europe

A Flirt

Man and woman stand apart and yet are closely bound to one another: by glances and gestures, common history, and literally biblical bonds.

#The Face of Europe

A timely warning

During his lifetime Georg Petel, who was born in Weilheim in Upper Bavaria, visited among other places Antwerp, Paris, Genoa, and Rome. After his wanderings he settled down in Augsburg, which at the...

#The Face of Europe

Sympathy and consolation

The signs of unceasing physical labour are evident: hand, shoulder, and knee prop up a weary head. He has sat down to rest outdoors. Near the resting figure lie a whetstone, its container, and...

#The Face of Europe

In the same boat

A young woman, a young man, and a second woman, elderly and at death’s door, can be observed from every angle.

Art Stories

Würde und Respekt

Es ist ein Kreuz

A delicate relationship

Furor

A Flirt

A timely warning

Sympathy and consolation

In the same boat

1953: Amerika

1889: Ankunft und Bau der Hofmuseen

1988: Wider die Raumhärte

2013: Öffentlich

1883: Umzug

1891: Dimensionen

1919: Leere Rahmen

1891: Das vollendete Museum

1989: Geduld

1891: Parallelen

1892: In Gold und Rot

2009: Der Kunst ein Fest

Between death and resurrection or: off to new shores.

1968: Sichtbar

2008: EM

1967: Passage

1990: Online

2018: Vermittler

1934: Auszug

1871: Original

An exclusive view

On Stage

My death

Bright light

Outdoors

Beyond the grave

An Italian from Palermo

Hercules and Jesus

A mystic betrothal

Pleasant and lovely

2007: Befreiung. Ein Versuch

An exquisite treasure

A sea battle of consequence

Together

Balance and Harmony