Lucas Cranach the Elder was a contemporary of Albrecht Durer and was reported to have studied his style intensely. As did Durer, Cranach made his own self-portrait a part of many of his most important works. His contributions to the art movement of the era cause many to credit him as being the initiator of the Danube school of artwork. Regardless of whether he founded the movement or not, it is quite obvious that Cranach’s works had some bearing on the direction of the artists involved; the landscape styles painted by artists from the Danube school bear a strong resemblance to those painted by Cranach’s own hand.

Lucas Cranach the Elder painted a variety of works depicting different religious scenes. These include a number of paintings that feature the Crucifixion, either as the subject of the painting or as a part of the Holy Trinity. Other major religious figures that Cranach painted include beautiful nudes of Adam and Eve and charming scenes of the Virgin and Child. He was also a follower of Martin Luther, as were many artists of his time, and painted a portrait of the religious leader in 1543. Though he never made a confession to officially become part of Luther’s movement, Cranach made a name for himself as the portraitist most often associated with the Reformation of the Church. Interestingly, it was during this period that Cranach produced many of the semi-erotic nudes for which is famous.

The diverse buildings within the museum quarter showcases some of the most amazing architectural examples from various periods of history. With stunning contemporary masterpieces situated next to buildings designed in the baroque style, the contrast of styles brings added interest to the area. The Hapsburg Dynasty’s Royal Stables were originally located on the site, and in the mid 1980’s the area was turned into as a hub of museums that would pull together the points of interest in this area of Vienna.

The Museum Quarter houses some of Vienna’s most important galleries. The Leopold Museum contains a massive collection of art from great Austrian artists, such as Klimt, Gertsl, and many others. The Museum of Modern Art, also known as MUMOK, displays the collection of Peter and Irene Ludwig, which includes works by many modern masters such as has on Jackson Pollock, Pablo Picasso, and Sir Francis Bacon. The Kunsthalle Wien is an unusual collection of experimental artworks by more recent artists. Regular exhibitions of various art forms are held here, drawing in visitors from around the globe. Other points of interest within the Museum Quarter are the Children’s Museum, which is the only one of its kind in Austria, and the Transquartier Wien, which is the city’s center for modern and contemporary dance and performance art.

In 1957, the globally-known European collectors Peter and Irene Ludwig placed their extensive collection of modern art into the trust of the state, resulting in many of the pieces being placed on display within the Museum of Modern Art. In fact, the full name of the MUMOK is The Museum mModerner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien, partially in reference to the large number of donations of the Ludwig trust to the museum’s collection. The Ludwig Foundation of Vienna now has the responsibility of organizing exhibitions, restoring works, and acquiring new art for the Museum of Modern Art.

The permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art features some nine thousand works by some of the biggest names in modern and contemporary art. Within the Classic Modernism collection, you can find prominent pieces from artists of the Dadist, Surrealist, Expressionist, and Cubist schools of art. The Hahn Collection includes an extensive number of works from the Nouveau Realisme movement of France. Each of the thirteen founding artist of this movement have pieces on display within the MUMOK. Works by Andy Warhol are also on display, alongside others from the American and European Pop Art movement of the mid-twentieth century. For a less globally well-known, but artistically significant experience, view the works from the Viennese Actionism movement. These artists abandoned the typical canvas and easel process of painting to use their bodies and other objects for self-expression in their artwork. Capping the collection are some interesting works of Fluxus, which are collages of objects meant to express the connection of life and art.

The Leopold collection contains more than 5,000 works of art, the majority of which are housed within the museum. Artists featured include many of the most influential names in Modern Art, particularly from the Viennese Secession period.

The museum came under fire in early 2006 when some paintings were determined to have belonged to a Jewish family, from which they had been seized during the Holocaust. Eventually, five works by Gustav Klimt were returned to the surviving family members under the power of Austria’s restitution laws. Currently, there is a legal battle on the part of the museum to retrieve one of Egon Schiele’s paintings, which was seized and presented to the family of another alleged former owner under the same laws. Other works within the collection have been questioned periodically, and Leopold himself has been forced to defend the ownership and merit of his collection.

Works from some of the most important names in art history are featured within the collection at the Leopold museum. Austrian Impressionist painter Egon Schiele, who lived from 1890 to 1918, takes up three rooms within the museum, with approximately 200 of his works featured–the largest collection of his art in the world. Gustav Klimt, a controversial Viennese Symbolist painter, and the mentor of Schiele, has a large number of works on display. Two other notable artists featured in the collection are Oskar Kokoschka and Richard Gerstl. Kokoschka was an Expressionist painter and contemporary of Scheile and Klimt. Gerstl, also an Expressionist, rounds out this quartet of modern masters, who are considered to be the most influential Austrian artists of the Twentieth century. Sadly, both Schiele and Gerstl met their demise prior to seeing their own success and enjoying their achievements. These four men were among the founding and original contributing members of the Viennese Secession, which set the tone for the development of Modern Art in Vienna.

Lucas Cranach the Elder, born in the year 1472, was one of the most influential artists of his time, and supposedly the inspiration behind the Danube school of art. Cranach was the official artist of the Saxony electors, working directly for Frederick the Wise and other members of this politically powerful group. Many of his most important works were portraits of these leaders or were images commissioned by them. Cranach’s connection to the Saxony electors was so great that he followed Frederick into exile, where he died in the year 1553.

Cranach’s portrait of the Holy Family contains some of the most influential figures in the history of the Christian faith. This grouping comes from an obsession, during Medieval times, with the extended family of Christ. During this era, people used a few references within the books of the Bible to create what they believed was an accurate family tree for Jesus Christ. In addition to Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, often pictured within portraits of the Holy Family were John the Baptist and his mother and siblings, as well as Saint Anne, who was said to be the grandmother of Christ. Interestingly, in this case, Cranach has included a self-portrait of himself, along with an image of his own wife and children, within the scene. The addition of the artist into religious artworks was seemingly a trend during this historical period, as Durer was also known to include himself in such images.

The Beethovenfries is considered to be one of the most remarkable works of Gustav Klimt, a renowned and influential Austrian artist of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. As is exhibited in this piece, Klimt was widely known for the graphic images and portrayals of his artwork, which were considered by some to border on pornography, by the strict moral standards of the time.

Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony is one of monumental pieces of music in history. The composition of the symphony was begun in 1819 and was not completed until 1823. When played in its entirety, the piece last for more than an hour and is broken up into 4 different parts. The most commonly known section is the Ode to Joy, which is the final section. The Ode to Joy was written to accompany a poem of the same name by Schiller. Considered to be a terrible selection, on the whole, by many of his contemporaries, this last major piece of work by Ludwig von Beethoven was certainly his most recognized and beloved throughout the years since his death in 1827. At the time of its composition, Beethoven had become completely deaf, never hearing his own greatest masterpiece except for within his own mind.

While the Academy has co-existed with the Gemaldegalerie for hundreds of years, it did not become the significant gallery that is currently known around the world until the early 1800’s. In 1822, there was a large donation of notable works left to the Academy in the will of Count Lamberg-Sprinzenstein. The Count spent years as the President of the Academic Advisory committee of the Academy and was one of the largest collectors of fine art in all of Europe. Upon his death, he wished for these valuable works to be on display for the enjoyment of the public.

The Academy itself has some interesting ties to the rise of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi party. In the years 1907 and 1908, Hitler applied for admission to the Academy. The selection committee rejected his application in both years, citing him as being an unqualified artist. Hilter proclaimed that the reasoning behind the denial of admission was the large number of Jewish members of on the admissions board. Later, during the Nazi occupation of Vienna, the majority of the Jewish staff of the Academy and Gallery were removed, putting a great strain on this artistic community.

Throughout history, many important figures have occupied this palace and historic events have taken place within the walls, however none had such a connection with the palace as Empress Maria Theresa. During her reign, the palace became her residential home, seeing the births of her 16 children, including Marie Antionette and Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II. Maria Theresa, who ruled as a dowager from the death of her husband in 1765, worked to rebuild the economy and military of her struggling dynasty and made a name for herself as the only female to rule during the entire Hapsburg dynasty, all from behind these palace walls.

Originally acquired by Emperor Maxmilian II, the palace was used as a retreat and game preserve. It continued to be used specifically for hunting until it was given to the Empress Maria Theresa by her father, Emperor Charles VI. From this palace, she spent the entirety of her reign improving and expanding the palace, and is responsible for the much of the design and décor that you see within the walls today. The small round and oval shaped rooms with Chinese themes were the rooms in which Maria Theresa consulted with her most trusted advisors in secret. Hidden passageways lead from the suites of her advisors to the Chinese cabinets. These rooms were also where she indulged in games of cards. The palace remained in the possession of the Hapsburgs until the end of the dynasty in 1918, when ownership was forfeited to the Republic of Austria.

The uniqueness of the architecture of Karlskirche has been its main attraction since the mid 1700s. Though the design was seemingly unpopular and was never duplicated, it certainly drew the attention of the world with its combination of Greek, Roman, and Austrian influences. The peak of the dome is 236 feet high and is constructed of green copper. Pillars on either side of the dome are said to depict the Pillars of Hercules, and refer to the loss of a portion of the Hapsburg Empire, which occurred prior to the construction. The unusual exterior, combined with the extravagant frescoes that grace the inside of the church, make this a true architectural wonder.

St Charles’ Church was commissioned by Hapsburg Emperor Charles VI, following through on a pact that he had made with God. This pact is remembered by an inscription in Latin, which translates to “I fulfill my vow in the presence of those who fear the Lord.” When the Black Plague descended on Austria, Charles VI prayed that God would end the plague that was laying waste to his country and in return, he would build a cathedral in tribute to St. Charles Borromeo, for whom he was named. The intricate and beautiful frescoes within the building were painted by J.M. Rottmeyer and depict St. Charles, who was known for his work with plague victims, pleading to God on behalf of the victims of the Black Plague.

The Cathedral shows the true spirit of the Austrian people and culture. The original sanctuary that stood on the grounds was destroyed by fire in 1147, and a basilica was built in its place. In 1258, the basilica burned, as well, and in the early 1300’s construction on the current cathedral began. Though it remained standing, damage to the structure was the result of battles in both 1683 and during World War II. Each time the building was damaged, it rose from the ashes and was improved upon, creating the architectural wonder that it now is.

The Cathedral and its Catacomb tours will give you a glimpse at one of the most interesting and often bizarre locations in this beautiful city. The uncompleted north tower was officially claimed to have been stopped because of a lack of funding, however, local legends tell the tale that the architect of the tower had gone back on a deal with the devil, and was subsequently thrown off the tower and to his death. Within the chapel, you can view a statue of the crucifixion of Christ, known as “Christ With Toothache.” Some blame this moniker on His expression, while others claim that those who disrespect the statue will wind up with a toothache themselves. Within the Catacombs, you will find the bones of thousands of victims of the Great Plague of Vienna in 1679. Also, within the Catacombs are the usual royal burial chambers, along with bronzed urns, containing the entrails of the Hapsburg monarchy.