Until the end of October, the Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein is the host of an interesting exhibition, dedicated to the hunt, both as a myth and a reality, and it's representantions in the history of art. Each year, this prestigious cultural institution is presenting a special exhibition of works drawn from the private collections of the Princes of Liechtenstein, once again bringing back to life the works of the Old Masters.
For the theme of this year's exhibition, the hunt, is by all means inspired by the life of nobility, being in the last one of it's greatest privileges. Over centuries, the collections of the princes of Liechtenstein have been enriched with a great number of artworks and items related to this subject, ranging from weapons and paintings, to hunting clothes, drawings and porcelain, all showcasing how important hunting was for the nobles. An art and a pleasure, taken very seriously by all members of the family, it's secrets were passed on from generation to generation, hunting was maybe the favourite past-time.
Yet, in the fields of art, it was a very serious and old theme, and the works presented in the show demonstrate a filiation to the similar works of hunters in mythology, to the popular depictions of later, and ending with the much more realistic depictions of huns and hunt still-lifes, compositions in which the artist has tried with all of his talent to depict exactly what he saw, in a manner that mixed sicentific observation and artistic interpretation. The curators of the show at the Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein have tried to present some of the best examples from the famous collections, showing how famous pairs from Antiquity such as Diana and Actaeon, Venus and Adonis and others have become subjects and later were reprised in Renaissance and Baroque.
Besides the artworks, the presentation is completed by valuable utensils, crossbows, hunting accessories, powder horns, many made out of precious materials, detined to be used solely by the rich and powerful. To further enrich the image, the show also has a section dedicated to the presence of hunting in the delicate world of porcelain. On this delicate masterpieces, talented and often forgotten artists of those times have tried, with near invisible brushes, to capture the beauty, magic and charm of the hunts. Many of these porcelain plates and bowls were later used at the dinner table, when the meat became delicious specialities.
2007-10-17
