Albertina: The History of the Collection and Its Masterpieces [Hardcover]

Barbara Dossi (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2000

Perhaps the most significant collection of graphic art in the world, the Albertina in Vienna is famous for the unsurpassed quality of its pieces. It comprises around 65,000 drawings, a million prints and countless other works on paper, ranging from the Late Gothic period to the present day. Duerer, Leonardo da Vinci, Rubens, and Michelangelo, Goya, van Gogh, Cezanne, Picasso, Pollock and Christo are among the 68 artists selected from the collection for inclusion in this volume. This book is an exploration of the 200 year history of the museum, from its founding by the collector to the acquisitions of recent directors.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Durer, Leonardo da Vinci, Rubens, and Michelangelo, Goya, van Gogh, Cezanne, Picasso, Pollock and Christo are among the 68 artists selected for inclusion in this sumptuously illustrated volume. An exploration of the two-hundred-year history of the museum from its founding by the collector Duke Albert to the acquisitions of recent directors, this exquisite book also includes the fruit of previously unpublished recent research.

From the Inside Flap

This volume presents a number of surprising new facts that have now come to light, reflecting the fruits of recent research on the acquisitions made by Duke Albert, his Habsburg heirs, and subsequent directors at the Albertina. The dangers to which the Collection was exposed following the abolition of the monarchy, and again between 1935 and 1945, are also examined. A number of unique historical documents and a selection of the most famous sheets in the collection, exquisitely reproduced for this edition, document the history of the Albertina and the focus of each period of acquisition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Prestel (March 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3791323407
• ISBN-13: 978-3791323404
• Product Dimensions: 12.1 x 9.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,445,773 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Albertina : The History of the Collection and Its Masterpiec, March 27, 2000

By 

E. Carey (Houston,Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Albertina: The History of the Collection and Its Masterpieces (Hardcover)

The book is well footnoted. The historical content is quickly to the point and foundationally points the reader to the essence of the museum, collecting master pieces. I visited the museum at the beckoning of a friend in 1969 and fell in love with the plates of Durer. They are presented to the visitor in a leather bound book and are place,at your request, on a table for your review. Some are these plates are exquisitely displayed in the book. It makes me want to return to enjoy Albertina once more.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars interesting history of Albertina, January 17, 2010

By 

Ivor E. Zetler (Sydney Australia) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Albertina: The History of the Collection and Its Masterpieces (Hardcover)

The Albertina's massive collection of graphic art includes 65,000 drawings and over one million old master prints. The collection was initiated by Duke Albert of Saxe-Teschen (1738-1822) and passed into the public domain in 1919. Extensively damaged by bombing in 1945, the buildings have been reconstructed of late.

The first section of this book details the history of this august institution. Some of the information is quite detailed and would be of more interest to the specialist rather than the average reader. This is followed by 86 full page illustrations of drawings from the collection. There are 5 majestic watercolors by Durer (he produced only 35) as well as some superb drawings by the likes of Michelangelo, Raphael, Rubens, Carracci,Barocci and Poussin. The later works are by more modern artists and are of variable quality and interest.

The standard of the color reproductions are above average but not exceptional. This book would appeal to drawing completists rather than the average enthusiast. There are many more books on drawings that are superior in quality and coverage than the issue under discussion.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a Treasure!, July 24, 2000

By 

"susanandrews" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Albertina: The History of the Collection and Its Masterpieces (Hardcover)

This book is a hidden treasure. I was not familiar with the Albertina or its collections before a friend of mine gave me this book, and the exploration of this gorgeous collection has been a treat. The prints selected for the book are of unrivalled quality, ranging from Durer to Picasso, this one volume covers the temporal and stylistic range of drawing and prints more intelligently than I've seen before. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes drawings and prints, or even anyone who likes art at all as a testament to the skill, ingenuity and imagination of mankind.