Gallery of Painting and Fine Arts in Vienna
Overview
The Gallery of Painting and Fine Arts, located in the vibrant city of Vienna, is a treasure trove of artistic masterpieces. Known for housing Hieronymus Bosch's captivating painting, 'Last Judgment,' this gallery also features significant works by renowned European artists such as Rembrandt, Cranach the Elder, and Rubens. After undergoing extensive renovations and reopening in the autumn of 2010, it now boasts a dedicated exhibition space for contemporary art, where professors and students from the nearby academy showcase their talent. This gallery offers art aficionados an enriching experience, blending classical masterpieces with modern creativity.
Reviews
The gallery isn't too big, but it features impressive works by Bosch and Rubens, along with some intriguing pieces from lesser-known artists that are definitely worth your time. The current exhibition is well thought out, but to grasp the curators' concept, it is advisable to read the exhibition guide available at the entrance in either German or English. The building itself is also quite captivating.
The staff were quite rude during my visit. I explored the paintings gallery and the contemporary exhibition. The painting collection features Bosch, Van Dyck, Botticelli, Rubens, Rembrandt, Waldmüller, and a special exhibition on Cranach the Elder. On January 24th, at around 17:42, I was alone in the gallery. While admiring a Bosch painting, a female guard approached me, with a Spanish accent, and insisted I shouldn't take too long. I informed her that I had 18 minutes left before closing time at 6 PM. Her response felt pressuring and unprofessional for a representative of the museum, especially since I was there within the opening hours. On a positive note, another guard provided a link to view the artwork online, which I appreciated: https://guide.kunstsammlungenakademie.at/en/considering-the-collection-2024/in-depth-history-of-the-paintings-gallery/
This is a lesser-known gallery in Vienna, located on the 2nd floor of the Academy of Fine Arts - it can be a bit tricky to locate. The gallery has a small collection of classic and modern art. The highlight of the collection is definitely “The Last Judgement” by Bosch, which is absolutely stunning!
Now that it's relocated to the Academy of Fine Arts, I feel this gallery should not own Bosch’s masterpiece altarpiece, The Last Judgement. Many people come to Vienna specifically to see this piece, and to have it displayed closed is an absolute disappointment. It would have been outrageous if I had paid to come specifically for that. I'm baffled that a curator with any appreciation for art history would allow this to happen.
I found it difficult to enjoy my visit due to the noise. They have incorporated numerous video and audio installations with disturbing modern elements and focused only on the most sensational works. There is currently no permanent exhibition, so be warned. If you traveled a long distance solely to see the Bosch piece, it's worth the entry fee. However, I struggled to appreciate the art with the background noise, such as audio recordings of people saying 'scheiße' in the same room. I regret paying €9 for entry, and unfortunately, I cannot recommend this place as it has changed significantly and was much more enjoyable in the past.