Kunsthistorisches Museum - Prunk und Prägung

Kunsthistorisches Museum-Prefalling and embossing

Focus on art object. Medals are primarily collectibles. They convey political messages or serve as an award for special achievements. Medals are also reminiscent of a person or a special occasion, such as marriage or a climbing throne. The exhibition shows portraits of important family members from 1500 until the end of the monarchy in 1918. It leads to the courtyards in Madrid, Prague, Vienna or Innsbruck. Many medales work there. A job as a court artist brings many advantages and high reputation. Therefore, it is very popular.

70 medals from 400 years face works from sculpture and painting. The exhibition PRUNK & MIT follows artists who often work in several art forms. They manufacture medals, but are also architects, painters, sculptors or goldsmiths. The exhibition shows medals together with other works by the same artist. The way of working changes over the centuries: in the Renaissance and in the Baroque, the artists also make sculptures, paintings or similar things in addition to medals. In later time, they specialize in medals.