IN CELEBRATION of the 130th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Austria and South Korea, the Six Centuries of Beauty in the Habsburg Empire Exhibition will be held until March of 2023. Divided into five sections, the exhibition showcases 96 artworks and artifacts, including paintings, armors, and handicrafts, collected by the Habsburg royal family over 600 years—each section features masterpieces gathered during a different time period. The first section introduces artworks collected by Emperor Rudolf II, who reigned during the Holy Roman Empire during the 16th century, while the second showcases handicrafts collected by Archduke Ferdinand II, who turned Castle Ambras into a museum, making it one of the oldest museums in the world[1]. The third section is filled with vibrant oil paintings from the 17th century, including the famous Infanta Margareta Teresa in a White and Silver Dress by Diego Velazquez. The fourth section features paintings such as the portrait of Marie Antoinette and Court Banquet to Celebrate the Engagement of Archduchess Marie Christine to Prince Albert of Saxony, which allows visitors to take a sneak peek into the glamorous lifestyle of royal families back in the 18th century. Finally, the last section highlights the life of the penultimate emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Franz Joseph I, and the decline of the Austrian Empire[1]. The Korean traditional armor and the helmet that Gojong—the last king of the Joseon Dynasty—gifted to Francis Joseph I when diplomatic relations were established between Joseon and Austria in 1892, acts as the grand finale of the exhibition, reminding visitors once again of the House of Habsburg’s influence and their penchant for collecting art.

[1] Weekly Kyunghyang