'Princely Treasures from the House of Liechtenstein'

Adjusted the calendar and made time to attend National Museum's ticketed public lectures held in conjunction with the Museum's special exhibition 'Princely Treasures from the House of Liechtenstein'. (For more information, visit their website.)

Skipped Vaduz when the friends and I did that long trip across Europe. We spent a lot of time in Andorra. Oh well. The man's parents have almost always done an annual cruise along Rhine and always speak of how quaint and quiet Vaduz is. Gorgeous photos sent from their cruise earlier in May. Made a mental note to stop by Liechtenstein in future.

Filippo Parodi's 'Allegory of Vice', in marble, c 1684/1694.
Inspired by Bernini’s "anima dannata".

Well, it wasn't so much about curiosity of the pieces in the collection, but more of what's known to be in there, of which I wanted to see what they've brought to Singapore in this special exhibition. I wasn't disappointed. 91 masterpieces from the art collection of the Prince of Liechtenstein are on display at the National Museum, focusing on the artists and styles of the late 15th and 16th century- High Renaissance, Baroque, Neoclassical and Biedermeier. What a treat!

Held over two evenings, two speakers helmed the lectures- Magistra Alexandra Hanzl, Deputy Director of the Princely Collections, Vaduz, and the Liechtenstein Museum, Vienna, and Dr Johann Kräftner, Director of the Princely Collections, Vaduz, and the Liechtenstein Museum, Vienna. They spoke on 'The Princes of Liechtenstein as Patrons of Art and the History of the Princely Collections', 'The Liechtenstein City Palace and Summer Palace in Vienna', and on 'Renaissance and Baroque Art'. 

Of course the lectures weren't held in an auditorium. The audience sat among the art works and had a little bit of time to linger and view the amazing pieces. Won't bore you with the details. Thoroughly enjoyed the information and thoughts of the curators behind the pieces brought into Singapore, and those that weren't, enabling us to understand about life and architecture in that era.

Jan Brueghel the Younger's 'The Triumph of Death' (after Pieter Bruegel the Elder),
c 1620,  Antwerp.