Description
(Local Name: Kunsthistorisches Museum) The Kunsthistorisches Museum, its mighty dome crowned by a bronze figure of Pallas Athene, houses one of the most important art collections in the world. It underwent restoration at the beginning of the 90s. In the second half of the 19th C. it was realized that Vienna had no counterpart of the great art galleries of London and Amsterdam, particularly since the Imperial collections in Prince Eugene's former summer mansion had become far too large for those premises. Karl Hasenauer and Gottfried Semper were charged with the task of drawing up plans for two splendid museums, the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Naturhistorisches Museum. Between 1871 and 1891 they erected the vast pair of buildings which form the left and right hand sides of Maria-Theresien Platz. Though the state was close to bankruptcy, the architects were under instructions not to make economies, and they were able to use expensive materials and commission highly rated artists with the decoration of the interior. Among those who worked on the embellishment of the Museum's interior were Viktor Tilgner, Hans Makart, Michael Munkacsy, the brothers Ernst and Gustav Klimt and Franz Matsch. Art Collections The collections are divided into eight departments. The main building houses the Egyptian- Oriental Collection, the Collection of Antiquities, the Sculpture and Applied Arts Collection, the Collection of Paintings and the Collection of Coins. The Museum's other collections are found elsewhere: the Treasure in Schweizerhof of the Hofburg, the Sammlung Alter Musikinstrumente (Collection of Old Musical Instruments), the Ephesos Museum and the Waffensammlung (Weapon Collection) in der Neuen Burg and the Wagenburg in Schloss Schönbrunn. The main building in Maria Theresien Platz has 51 rooms with the Egyptian-Oriental Collection and Collection of Paintings being the most highly rated.

One of the largest collections of Renaissance tapestries is housed in this museum. Hundreds of portraits from the Middle Ages to the 19th C. are filled with costume and textile information.
Attractions within Museum of Art History / Fine Arts

Museum of Art History (Antiquities Collection)

The Museum of Art History's Antiquties Collection is located on the Museum's raised first floor.

Room IX: Art from Cyprus. Bronze age pottery and sepulchral reliefs from Palmyra.

Room X: Greek
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Museum of Art History (Coin Collection)

The Coin Collection in Vienna's Museum of Art History is arranged in three rooms and is one of the largest and most important of its kind.

Room I: Development of money from natural forms of
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Museum of Art History (Egyptian-Oriental Collection)

The Museum of Art History's Egyptian-Oriental Collection is located on the raised first floor.

Room I: Cult of the dead. Large stone sarcophagi, (600-100 B.C.), painted wooden coffins (1100- 100 B
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Museum of Art History (Picture Gallery)

The world famous Picture Gallery in Vienna's Museum of Art History is housed in 15 rooms and 24 cabinets. It is located on the first floor.

Room I: Works by Titian, "Ecce-Homo" and "Danae".

Room
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Museum of Art History (Sculpture and Applied Arts Collection)

In Vienna's Museum of Art History the Sculpture and Applied Arts Collection is located on the Museum's raised ground floor.

Room XXXVI: High and late Middle Ages. Ivory carving, rock crystal
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Address
Vienna Art & Natural History Museums
Maria-Theresia-Platz
A-1010 Wien
Austria
Website
Email
Hours
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
OpenClosed10:0010:0010:0010:0010:0010:00
Closed18:0018:0021:0018:0018:0018:00
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
May Day / Labor Day (May 1)
All Saints' Day - Christian (November 1)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Cost
Adult7.27 Euros
Concession or reduced rate5.09 Euros
Tips
Live music performance.
Disabled
Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
Guides
Guided tour included with admission.
Facilities
Gift shop
Restaurant or food service
Transit
U-Bahn: Babenbergerstrasse, Volkstheate; Bus: 2A, 3A, 57A; Tram: 1, 2, D, J, 52, 58,.
Attractions Near Museum of Art History / Fine Arts, Vienna