Emperor Franz Joseph I

Well, and here is "Sisis" husband, Emperor Franz Joseph I. This bust is situated at the Fine Arts Museum (Kunsthistorisches Museum) which was built on his behest to house the extensive collections of the imperial family.

Monument to "Sisi"

This monument to famous Empress Elisabeth ("Sisi") in Volksgarten was designed by architect Friedrich Ohmann and unveiled in 1907 (nine years after her death) in the presence of Emperor Franz Joseph I who had chosen himself the location of the memorial. The monument is made of marble and shows "Sisi" in her prime, without any attributes of an Empress.

Courtyard of Palais Harrach

Palais Harrach houses the interior designer I have presented to you already here and here. Some days ago I noticed this new garden furniture in the courtyard. I would have loved to take a rest there... I didn´t dare altough it was sunday and nobody would have seen me...

Doorway of Palais Harrach

Palais Harrach is a baroque palace on Freyung in the first district, erected in 1690 for Count Ferdinand Bonaventura Harrach, and adjacent to Palais Ferstel that I have presented to you last week.

The idler

The sculpture "The idler" by German artist Cosima von Bonin was erected some days ago on Graben in the city center at the initiative of the organization "Public Art Vienna". The press release says that this temporary installation "[...] focuses on the commercial excesses of inner city spaces. The Pinocchio presents himself as a disruptive element on Vienna´s consumption binge boulevard, because he resists the impulse to buy and - as an "idler" and "good-for-nothing" - interferes with the efficient flow of transactions, thus symbolically obstructing the circulation of money and commidities. In a culture of logos, the art object turns into a "blank", heralding a social utopia beyond the market logic in its rejection of commercialization and trade efficiency [...]". I wonder what modern art would be without such explanations...

Macaroons

I have good news for all lovers of the famous Parisian Ladurée macaroons: you can get them even in Vienna, at "Xocolat" in Palais Ferstel. I didn´t try them yet, but the other day I bought there some very delicious pralines.

Palais Ferstel 6

You can enter the shopping arcade also by a side entrance from this small courtyard.

Palais Ferstel 5

Above the shops there are beautiful caryatid and atlantid figures.

Palais Ferstel 4

Even this 6m high "Danube mermaid fountain", made of marble and bronze, was designed by Heinrich von Ferstel.

Palais Ferstel 3

Don´t forget to have a look at the ceiling of the arcade.

Palais Ferstel 2

The beautiful shopping arcade of the palace.

Palais Ferstel 1

The Palais Ferstel was created by Heinrich von Ferstel between 1856 and 1860. At the time of its opening, it was considered as Vienna´s "most up-to date" building. The palace briefly housed the Vienna Stock Exchange and the Austro-Hungarian National Bank. Since 1876 it houses the famous Café Central, nowadays you can find there also a very nice shopping arcade.

Sneak view

If you approach the area of the Belvedere Palaces from Rennweg, you get this first view of the Upper Belvedere.

Puppy vase

I saw this vase at the stand of a slovenian gallery at VIENNAFAIR. It´s not just a vase, it´s an artwork... The inspiration was quite obviously Jeff Koons´ puppy in front of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao (Spain).

Viennafair

This weekend VIENNAFAIR, an international contemporary art fair focusing on Central and Eastern Europe takes place at Messe Wien. Over 110 renowned galleries from more than 20 countries have been selected by an international committee to showcase their latest works in several areas of art: painting, graphic art, sculpture, photgraphy, media, installations and performance.
This portrait of Marilyn Monroe is made of little portraits of John F. Kennedy.

Flowers in Volksgarten

Lovely flower pots...

Volksgarten

The Volksgarten is a public park in Vienna´s first district. The area was previously occupied by a bastion which was demolished by French troops following the Napoleonic Wars. The park was opened to the public in 1823. In the background you can see the Natural History Museum.

Et tu, Duchamp?

This bronze sculpture by Indian artist Subodh Gupta was placed last week on Kunsthalle wien public space karlsplatz where it will remain until October 31, 2010. Gupta, who calls himself "idol thief", quotes in his works icons of European art, positioning them in new contexts. For the sculpture "Et tu, Duchamp?" he has used the French artist Marcel Duchamp´s work "L.H.O.O.Q." (1919) which shows Mona Lisa disfigured by a moustache and a goatee, as a model.

Anker Clock

The Anker Clock is a bridge between the two parts of the former Anker Insurance Company‘s building. It was created by the painter and sculptor Franz von Matsch and built from 1911 to 1917. In the course of 12 hours, twelve historical figures or pairs of figures move across the bridge. Every day at noon, all of the figures parade, each accompanied by music from its era.

May Theme Day: Statue

This statue shows Austrian opera singer, actor and playwright Johann Nestroy (1801-1862). After a career as an opera singer in several European cities, he returned to his native Vienna and took up writing and acting. This combination of careers has caused Nestroy to be called the "Austrian Shakespeare". Nestroy's career as a playwright was an immediate success, he soon became a leading figure in Austrian culture and society.

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Botanical Garden 5

Botanical Garden 4

Botanical Garden 3

Collection of Cacti and Succulent Plants

Botanical Garden 2

Gentian in the "Alpinum" (montane, subalpine and alpine plants of the Alps and other mountains of Europe and Asia)

Botanical Garden 1

The Botanical Garden of the University of Vienna dates back to 1754 and was founded by Empress Maria Theresia. It covers 8 hectares, currently more than 9.000 species of plants are cultivated. The garden is open to the public and a popular recreation area, the admission is free.

Extended Showroom

The interior designer whose showroom I presented to you yesterday resides at Palais Harrach and uses also the courtyard of the baroque palace to present some pieces of outdoor furniture.

Interior Design Showroom

I don´t know how many times I have already pressed my nose against the windows of this showroom of an interior designer in the city center. You can find there always pieces of furniture with a certain "je ne sais quoi" (this table, for instance, is made of an old oil tank), unfortunately the prices are exorbitant.

Constitutional Court of Austria

This building on Judenplatz was originally designed by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach and erected from 1709 to 1714. Since then there have been several rebuildings, e.g. this facade was originally the back of the building. Since 1946 it houses the Constitutional Court of Austria, the highest state body in Austria when considering consitutional law.

Hats

Every time I pass by this millinery in the center of Vienna and gaze at the shop-window, it seems to me that here time stands still.

Upper Belvedere - Detail and Austrian Flag

According to legend, the flag was invented by Duke Leopold V of Austria as a consequence of his fighting during the Crusades: After a fierce battle, his white battle dress was completely drenched in blood. When he removed his belt, the cloth underneath was untouched by the blood, revealing the combination of red-white-red. He was so taken by this sight that he adopted the colors and scheme as his banner.

Upper Belvedere

The Upper Belvedere was designed by Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt as summer residence for Prince Eugene of Savoy and constructed between 1721 and 1722. On May 15, 1955 the Austrian State Treaty which re-established Austria as a sovereign state after the Second World War, has been signed in the Marble Hall. Today the Upper Belvedere houses the "Österreichische Galerie Belvedere" museum where you can see the world´s largest Klimt collection.

Vienna City Marathon

Yesterday the 27th Vienna City Marathon took place. 32.940 runners registered for the marathon, due to the currently restricted airspace 1.500 were not able to arrive to Vienna. The winners are Henry Sugut (2:08:40) and Hellen Kimutai (2:31:08), both from Kenia. Shortly after the start the participants passed by my place - this is what I saw from my living room.

Have a seat

... and gaze at all the beautiful flowers and plants at the Schönbrunn Palm House.

Reflections on Haas Haus

The "Haas Haus" was designed by Austrian architect Hans Hollein and completed in 1990. It houses a clothal shop, a hotel, a bar and a restaurant. For a long time the building was considered controversial because of its contrast with the adjacent St. Stephen´s Cathedral.

Bath pralines

I found these appealing "bath pralines" in my favourite paraphernalia shop - "Die Vermischte Warenhandlung"- in the city center.

Vienna State Opera by night

At the florist

This florist resides in the basement of the Vienna Stock Exchange, the "roman market hall". It´s always worth a detour, apart from beautiful flowers you can find there also books, accessories and garden furniture.

Late historicist edifice on Am Hof

Mirror, mirror on the wall...

Sweet Sunday #1

St. Charles Church

St. Charles´ Church was built as a result of a vow taken by Emperor Charles VI during a plague epidemic. It is consecrated to the patron saint of the Habsburg emperor, Saint Charles Borromeo. The church is the last work of the eminent baroque architect Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach. The construction began in 1716 and was finished - after J.B. Fischer von Erlach´s death - by his son Joseph Emmanuel in 1737 who sligthly changed the plans of his father.

Squirrel

In the park of Schönbrunn Palace you can see a lot of squirrels running around. If you bring hazelnuts there might be a chance that a squirrel approaches and takes a nut out of your hand.

Schönbrunn Palm House

This is the 28m high central pavilion of the Palm House in the park of Schönbrunn Palace. The Palm House was erected in 1881/2 (being the last of its type to be constructed on continental Europe) and consists of three pavilions which contain different climatic zones.

Soaking up the sun

I took this picture on Easter Sunday in the park of Schönbrunn Palace when the weather was fine and nearly everybody went for a walk. The broad alleys were crowded, but fortunately there are also quiet places.

Finally

Easter eggs

Gustav Klimt´s portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer on easter eggs...

Happy Easter

Easter bunnies

Easter Lebkuchen

Lebkuchen is a traditional Austrian biscuit product (resembling soft gingerbread) baked mainly for Christmas but - as you can see here - also for Easter.

April Theme Day: Red

At this time of the year of course even the theme day is dedicated to Easter ;-)
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