Reunions tend not to happen after a few decades have passed. Except, perhaps, at Belvedere, where a Fab Four find themselves together once more in the form of Johann Jakob Hartmann’s landscapes.
- Total of six landscapes by the Bohemian master
- Includes the elements series: earth, wind, fire, and water
- Paintings on display following restoration work
- Runs Feb 9, 2020 – Aug 29, 2020
- See also:
- Art exhibitions in Vienna
The four elements
(Johann Jakob Hartmann, Die Luft, undated; photo: Johannes Stoll / Belvedere, Wien)
The conservators at Belvedere can never be short of work, given the age and extent of the art collection. A recent project involved landscapes by Johann Jakob Hartmann, and you can judge the results of their careful restoration efforts yourself in a 2020 In-Sight exhibition.
Six Hartmann paintings feature in this small exhibition. Why only six? Well, the aim of the ongoing In-Sight series is quality, not quantity – providing visitors with a more in-depth look at the works on display and their context.
Hartmann caressed the canvas with his brush in the late 17th and early 18th centuries in Bohemia. Now part of Czechia, Bohemia formed part of the Habsburg monarchic lands at the time (notwithstanding the occasional invasion by the Ottoman Empire).
Although landscape painting had long existed, our Bohemian painter pioneered the genre in the region.
Hartmann drew his inspiration from earlier Flemish masters, such as Jan Brueghel the Elder (son of the more famous Bruegel, whose most notable works hang in Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum) and Gillis van Coninxloo (who himself influenced Jan Brueghel).
Hartmann touched on various themes and genres in his work, but is most recognised for his forest landscapes, which he filled with extraordinary detail and a diverse cast of people and animals.
The six pictures on display in the exhibition include the rare joy of a complete ensemble of paintings: Hartmann’s earth, fire, water and air landscapes. He handles each theme with a light touch that invites exploration as you view the work.
Of the other two paintings, Landschaft mit Festgesellschaft (my rough translation: landscape with people celebrating) might easily fit into the elements series stylistically. The other work bears the title Marketenderlager am Waldrand (my rough translation: food stall at the woodland edge).
Dates and tickets
Wander through Hartmann’s landscapes from February 9th, 2020 to August 29th, 2020. Any entrance ticket to Upper Belvedere also includes access to the temporary exhibitions.
When you view Hartmann’s efforts, you find yourself just a few yards from one of the world’s most famous paintings. Go upstairs to view Klimt’s The Kiss. If Hartmann’s era is more your style, then be sure to pop into the picture gallery of the Kunsthistorisches Museum mentioned earlier.
As the home of The Kiss, Upper Belvedere can get busy during peak season. So go early or book your timeslot in advance online.
How to get to the exhibition
Simply follow the instructions for reaching Upper Belvedere. The In-Sight (German: In-Blick) exhibitions normally reside on the left side of the lower floor.
Address: Prinz Eugen-Straße 27, 1030 Vienna