Belvedere is a palace and park complex that served as the summer residence of the outstanding military leader Eugene of Savoy. The architectural ensemble includes two magnificent palaces, the Upper and Lower Belvedere, built opposite each other on the slope of a picturesque hill. A wonderful Alpine park stretches out between them, the like of which did not exist anywhere else in Europe at the time.
By the way, the very name “Belvedere” translated from Italian means ‘beautiful view’. And indeed, stunning views open up from here in every direction, both in summer and in winter. Judging by the number of photos, it is definitely one of the most photographed sights in Austria. And by the number of masterpieces kept within its walls, it is considered one of the best in the world!
First, in 1716, the Lower Belvedere was built, and then, in 1722, the Upper. Today, the halls of the Gallery are housed in both palaces. Works by the most famous Austrian painters are gathered here, from the Middle Ages to contemporary artists. Among the most famous are paintings by Klimt, Renoir, Monet, Kokoschka, Schiele, Alt.
Despite the fact that the Belvedere Gallery displays thousands of paintings, many people come primarily to see one. Like the ‘Mona Lisa’ in the Louvre, visitors are drawn to Gustav Klimt’s famous ‘The Kiss’. The artist painted this picture in 1907-1908 on commission from a certain count. He was so captivated by the beauty of his beloved that he wanted to capture her in a passionate kiss (with himself, of course). He gave Klimt a medallion with a photograph of the girl. And, as they say, the artist himself fell in love with this beauty while working on the painting. That is why he did not depict the kiss directly on the lips. As a result, the painting can be interpreted in two ways: some think that the girl is in sweet anticipation, waiting for the kiss of her beloved, while others, on the contrary, claim that she is gently pushing her suitor away, indulgently enduring his caresses. And which camp do you belong to?
In addition to paintings, the Belvedere Gallery is famous for its sculptures. In particular, the busts of Franz Xaver Messerschmidt. Who would have known that these very busts, which the author called ‘character heads’, would become so popular in the art world. After all, he created them at the height of a mental illness that cost him his job at the Vienna Academy. These ‘heads’ draw attention because of the vividness of the emotions captured in them. Looking at them, one involuntarily wants to imitate these expressions, so do not be surprised if you notice someone carefully copying the expressions on their faces.
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