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170308: Liechtenstein Museum: Samson and Delilah. A Rubens-painting has returned
Liechtenstein Museum: Samson and Delilah. A Rubens-painting has returned
Brief comeback of a Rubens painting
“Samson and Delilah. A Rubens-painting has returned” – one could assume that Johann Kräftner, Director of the Liechtenstein Museum might have purchased a new painting. But the exhibit is an inventive project, which was assembled to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Rockox House Museum in Antwerp to which the Liechtenstein Museum linked up with a special reference.
The title of the exhibit becomes much clearer in the context of the painting’s history: Peter Paul Rubens created “Samson and Delilah” as a mantelpiece painting after his return from Italy in 1610 for his friend and sponsor, the mayor of Antwerp, Nicolaas Rockox the Younger. At that time mantelpiece paintings were most fashionable in Antwerp. In his piece of art Rubens not only included some typical Italian features, but also references to his client. After Rockox’ death the painting changed hands frequently until it was in the possession of the Liechtenstein family between 1700 and 1880. The painting decorated the walls of both Liechtenstein Palais in Vienna. “Samson and Delilah” is therefore currently on a brief return to Vienna before it will go back to the National Gallery in London – its current owner.
There is an additional feature connected to the painting, which makes this exhibit even more exciting or as Kräftner puts it: “an exhibit, which deals with one painting, but shows so much more”. The Pinakotek in Munich possesses the “Banquet in the house of Mayor Rockox” (1630 – 1635) painted by Franz II Francken, created two decades after “Samson and Delilah”. The Liechtenstein is currently displaying the highlights of the Rockox Collection, and the Rubens-painting is positioned in the centre over the mantelpiece. It is known that the works were distributed among at least three floors of the Palais. The exhibit can therefore be seen as a reflection of the former status as well as Rockox’s high standard of education.
Liechtenstein Museum
1090 Vienna, Fürstengasse 1, until 25.05.08
www.liechtensteinmuseum.at
Mehr Texte von translated and summarized by: Liz Wollner-Grandville
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170308
Liechtenstein Museum (geschlossen)
1090 Wien, Fürstengasse 1
Tel: +43 / 1 / 319 57 67 - 252, Fax: +43 / 1 / 319 57 67 - 255
Email: info@liechtensteinmuseum.at
http://www.liechtensteinmuseum.at
Öffnungszeiten: Freitag bis Dienstag 10.00–17.00 Uhr, Mittwoch und Donnerstag geschlossen
Liechtenstein Museum (geschlossen)
1090 Wien, Fürstengasse 1
Tel: +43 / 1 / 319 57 67 - 252, Fax: +43 / 1 / 319 57 67 - 255
Email: info@liechtensteinmuseum.at
http://www.liechtensteinmuseum.at
Öffnungszeiten: Freitag bis Dienstag 10.00–17.00 Uhr, Mittwoch und Donnerstag geschlossen
