New exhibition at the Liechtenstein museum
June 20 2011
Picture: Liechtenstein Museum
The Hohenbuchau Collection of Dutch and Flemish old masters has gone on display in its entirety for the first time at the Liechtenstein Museum. Amongst the Baroque gems is this portrait of a monk by Rubens, which is interesting to compare with the Portrait of a Carmelite Monk of a similar period about to be sold by Sotheby's.
The latter picture, long attributed to Rubens, is now being sold as a Van Dyck. As you can see from the catalogue note here, the picture was traditionally called 'Rubens' Confessor', and has a plausible provenance going back to Rubens himself. I'm looking forward to seeing it in the flesh - and if I'm feeling brave and am prepared to back up my earlier hunch that it might in fact be by Rubens, I'll let you know here...
By the way, in case you didn't know, the Liechtenstein Museum is not in Liechtenstein, but in Vienna. A long time ago, I was skiing in Switzerland, not far from Liechenstein. Feeling cultural, I thought I would drive down to the small principality to look at their fine collection. A couple of hours later a friendly tourist official in Vaduz (the capital of Liechtenstein) told me that no, the Liechtenstein Museum is in Austria. But the curious thing was the shock on his face, as if anybody could be so stupid to think it wouldn't be...
