The Belvedere: A Venue for Art for 300 Years

Vinzenz Fischer, Allegory of the Transfer of the Imperial Gallery to the Belvedere, 1781 © Belvedere, Vienna. Photo: Johannes Stoll

It took more than a decade to build the summer residence of Vienna's most famous general, Prince Eugene of Savoy. In 1723, construction of the upper palace drew to a close and the Belvedere estate was finally completed. The 300th anniversary of this event presents the perfect occasion for the museum to reflect on its history. Both as a museum and a landmark building, the Belvedere has stood for power and prestige throughout the ages, serving as the setting for courtly festivities, at times as a royal residence, and as the venue for the signing of the Austrian State Treaty in 1955. The Belvedere: 300 Years a Venue for Art examines the building’s changing roles.