The National Museum of History in Taipei will host a groundbreaking exhibition featuring original works by renowned Austrian symbolist painter Gustav Klimt and other Viennese masters this December. This marks the first time that original artworks from Vienna's prestigious Belvedere Museum collection will be displayed in Taiwan, coinciding with the National Museum of History's 70th founding anniversary celebration.
The exhibition, titled "A Century of Viennese Flower Paintings -- From Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller to Gustav Klimt," will showcase 60 paintings focusing on floral themes. This collaborative effort brings together the National Museum of History, Vienna's Belvedere Museum, and Taipei-based Mediasphere Communications LTD. to present this comprehensive display of Austrian artistic heritage. The show will run from December 5, 2025, through March 22, 2026, offering visitors nearly four months to experience these masterpieces.
Among the exhibition's highlights are several significant works that represent the evolution of Viennese art. "Still life with bust of Crown Prince Rudolf" by Hugo Charlemont, who lived from 1850 to 1939, will be featured alongside "Poor Wishers" by Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller, an artist who lived from 1793 to 1865. The painting "Large Flower Still Life with Birds" by Johann Baptist Drechsler has been specially selected as the exhibition's main visual representation, showcasing the botanical beauty that defines this collection.
The Belvedere Museum, one of Austria's most representative national art institutions, houses an impressive collection spanning 800 years of artistic achievement. The museum is particularly renowned for its holdings of works by Gustav Klimt, who lived from 1862 to 1918, as well as pieces by Egon Schiele and Koloman Moser. This extensive collection represents some of the most significant examples of Austrian and European art history.
Visitors to the Taipei exhibition will experience more than traditional gallery viewing through an innovative immersive "Klimt Garden" installation. This special feature will allow guests to step into the floral worlds that captivated 19th-century painters, creating an interactive experience that brings the artwork to life. The installation represents a modern approach to experiencing classical art, bridging the gap between historical works and contemporary museum experiences.
The exhibition's scope covers an impressive 200 years of European art history, tracing the evolution of artistic styles from Baroque through Romanticism and Impressionism to early explorations of Modernism. This comprehensive timeline will offer audiences a unique glimpse into Vienna's flourishing artistic heritage and its influence on European cultural development. The show demonstrates how floral themes served as a constant source of inspiration across different artistic movements and generations of painters.
This historic collaboration between Austrian and Taiwanese cultural institutions represents a significant milestone in international museum cooperation. The exhibition not only celebrates the National Museum of History's seven decades of service but also strengthens cultural ties between Austria and Taiwan through shared appreciation of artistic excellence.
