Masterpieces of the Habsburgs

Masterpieces from the Kunsthistorisches Museum reveal the splendor, collecting taste, and political vision of the Habsburg dynasty through works by Rubens, Velazquez, and Titian.

A dialog between Rome and Vienna unfolds through the masterpieces of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, tracing the cultural ties that united the two capitals and shaped their artistic traditions. Featuring over fifty works commissioned by the Habsburg imperial family between the 16th and 18th centuries, the volume offers a privileged insight into the splendor, collecting taste, and political vision of one of Europe’s most powerful dynasties. Through essays and scholarly contributions, the book explores the relationship between art, history, and power, highlighting masterpieces by Peter Paul Rubens, Diego Velazquez, Anthony van Dyck, Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese, and Arcimboldo.