Archduke Leopold Wilhelm’s Collection

The Stables Palace becomes an art gallery

When Archduke Leopold Wilhelm (1614-1662) of the House of Hapsburg returns to Vienna after 9 years as Governor of the Spanish Netherlands, he has acquired an enormous art collection, and brings with him no less than the basic stock of today’s painting gallery at the Kunsthistorisches Museum.

How does this happen? The Archduke understands how to exploit the political situation, particularly that of the revolution in England, during his time as Governor. To put it another way: he buys up large collections for a relatively small price from the fleeing English aristocrats in need of cash.

In this way he acquires more than 1400 paintings by Italian, Dutch and Flemish masters and over 500 statues within a few years.

Admittedly Leopold Wilhelm lacks the capital necessary to finance his activities as an art collector since the Spanish Crown is often facing state bankruptcy and is unable provide its Governor in the Netherlands with adequate funds.

So the Archduke borrows money, most of which he fails to pay back. When he returns to Vienna in 1656, his creditors hot on his heels, it is a more than hasty departure.

Once he is back home he has a large arts chamber installed on the upper floors of the Stallburg. In addition the arcades on the courtyard side are walled up and windows put in. They stay that way for 300 years and the arcade courtyard of the Stallburg is not restored to its original appearance until it is renovated in the 1950s.

Archduke Leopold Wilhelm’s collection remains in the Stallburg for 100 years, before the entire imperial art collection is moved to Belvedere Palace in 1776 under Maria Theresa. It eventually finds its way to the newly erected museum on Vienna’s Ringstraße at the end of the 19th century.

Today, most of the paintings from Archduke Leopold Wilhelm’s collection can be found in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.