Albertina 250 Jahre — "Sammeln für die Zukunft", June 19–Oct 11
- The file
- The practical details Claire checked before this went into the index.
- When
- 19 June 2026 – 11 October 2026
- Where
- Albertina, Albertinapl. 1, 1010 Wien — the 1st
- Price
- Standard Albertina admission; Open Door July 4–5 free
- Indoor
- Art history
- Ongoing
- Anniversary exhibition
- 1st district
The Collection and Its Founders
The Albertina was established in 1776 by Duke Albert of Saxony-Teschen and his wife, Archduchess Marie Christine of Austria. What most histories gloss over is that Marie Christine brought the wealth that made the collection possible — and she was an accomplished artist in her own right, with a direct hand in shaping what the couple acquired.
Marie Christine was the favourite daughter of Empress Maria Theresia. Her marriage to Albert was a political union, but it became a genuine partnership in collecting. She had been drawing and painting since childhood. This was not a decorative accomplishment — she had studied seriously, and her eye informed the couple's acquisitions. Yet the collection's founding narrative has consistently centered Albert, with Marie Christine relegated to the role of financier.
Sammeln für die Zukunft — What the Exhibition Does
The anniversary exhibition runs June 19–October 11 and draws from the museum's 1.2 million objects. The selection spans from Northern Renaissance works — Albrecht Dürer's famous hare drawing — through to Egon Schiele's raw, expressive work from the early 20th century. The exhibition is organized around the idea of collecting as an act of vision: what you choose to acquire says something about how you see the world.
By centering Marie Christine in this show, the Albertina is doing something that feels overdue. It's not revisionism — it's correction. The collection's scope, its emphasis on drawings and prints, its balance between Old Masters and contemporary work, all reflect her sensibility as much as Albert's.
The Open Door Weekend
July 4–5 marks the exact 250-year anniversary of the collection's founding. The museum is running an Open Door event both days — free admission. If you've been meaning to look at the Albertina but haven't made it, this is a practical reason to go. The crowds will be there, but so will the work.
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- When
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- Where
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- When
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- Where
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Read the note →