Don Quijote de Viena
Wien, 1. Bezirk, Burgring/Bellariastraße/Museumstraße, Naturhistorisches Museum, Natural History Museum Vienna, Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle Vienne, Museo de Historia Natural de Viena, Museo di storia naturale (Vienna), Muzeum Historii Naturalnej
History of the Museum
Scientific research and gathering in Austria found relatively late understanding and promotion. Indeed contained the chambers of art and curiosities of the Habsburgs also natural produce but for a long time they have been regarded as mere oddities, not as objects of scientific importance. It was not until Emperor Franz I. (Francis Stephen of Lorraine, 1745-1765), the husband of Maria Theresia, founded in 1748 with the purchase of the famous collection of Johann Baillous a private Naturalienkabinett. It was put up in accordance to Baillous' own scientific system in the Hofburg and was initially managed by this self.
The main emphasis was put on minerals and fossils as well as snail and mussel shells and corals. Plants and animals with soft parts were then (mainly because of the preparation problems) yet little appreciated as collector's items. They were held alive in botanical gardens and menageries.
After the death of Francis I the collection in which the Emperor had invested large sums of money was transferred into state ownership, reorganized and made twice a week accessible to the public. 1776 appointed Maria Theresa, particularly dear to her being mainly the earth sciences as a basis for mining and industry, the excellent mineralogist and montanist Ignaz von Born to Vienna and entrusted him with the systematic expansion of the collection. Born was a leader of the Enlightenment and Freemasonry, he might even have given the model for Sarastro in Mozart's "Magic Flute". With him for "Austria", definitely, dawned the scientific-technological age. The Naturalienkabinett (a cabinet of curiosities) then became a center of mineralogical research in Europe.
The nature-loving Emperor Franz II (I, 1792-1835) expanded the natural history collection for a private animal cabinet. The foundation for this were the trophies of the Habsburgs, which date back to Emperor Maximilian II (1564-1576), as well as the famous collection of prepared native vertebrates and insects of the falconer Joseph Natterer. After several reclassifications followed in 1807 the foundation of a separate plants cabinet. The Emperor lay with the gift of his Privatherbars (private plant collection) the foundation.
The exhibition practice around 1800 was marked by an often curious juxtaposition of little scientific and very progressive tendencies. The stuffed animals were shown in artificial landscape dioramas, ie already in ecological context. Alongside, however, stood also Stopfpräparate (stuffed compounds) of people of non-native breeds such as the "high princely Moor' Angelo Soliman, who came to literary fame.
The eminent scholar and organizer Carl Schreibers who from 1806 until 1851 headed the Natural History Collection, provided for key reforms in all areas. He extented all departments to major research centers and was supported not only by the museum officials, but also by a number of often highly skilled, unpaid volunteers.
On the occasion of the marriage of his daughter Leopoldina with the Brazilian crown prince Dom Pedro in 1817 sent Emperor Franz also well-known researchers to South America. Through their collecting activities, the growth of the museum's experienced a glorious climax. So stayed the zoologist Johann Natterer for 18 years in South America and established an in an exemplary manner documented collection of scientific and ethnographic objects for Vienna. This contributed significantly to the worldwide reputation of the museum, but also led to a decades-long lack of space.
With various, not always felicitous chosen emergency solutions on tried in vain to handle space problems sussesfully. During the revolutionary turmoil of 1848, the Imperial Palace was bombarded by imperial troops and partially set on fire. A part of the collection was destroyed, tragically, also many irreplaceable objects from the Brazilian material.
In the years after the Revolution, the collection was converted into an independent zoological, botanical and mineralogical Hofkabinett (Court cabinet). These cabinets with their extremely rich stocks offered not only ideal possibilities to explore, they contributed to the establishment of scientific disciplines in the university sector in 1870 also considerably to the formation of young scientists. The collections have been enhanced through exchange and purchases, by the collecting activities of the researchers as well as legacies, especially of scientifically inclined travelers, constantly . In addition, the by the Imperial Court generously funded cooperation with the Austrian navy became very important: Especially the circumnavigation of the world of the frigate "Novara" (1857-1859), which was attended by numerous excellent naturalist, gave an exceedingly rich collection of new material to the museum. The scientific word off should take decades.
This scientific Poiniergeist (pioneering spirit), reflecting the general belief in progress in the second half of the 18th Century, was facing the more and more oppressive need of space. Although Emperor Franz Joseph had already in 1857 the razing of the fortification lines around the city center ordered. On the cleared area should along a boulevard alongside other representative public buildings also new museums emerge. Up to the completion of this project, however, it was still a long way to go.
The liberal bourgeoisie then undergoing a steep political and economic upswing was inclined to replace the old cabinets through research and education centers for broad strata of the population and thus make its own cultural advancement clearly visible. But the neo-absolutist empire of the gradually decaying Habsburg monarchy, too, wanted erect itself a modern, artistically accomplished monument: A monumental Imperial Forum following the ancient example was planned, that should be reaching from the Imperial Palace to the royal stables. Realized of it was only a torso: the New Castle and Maria Theresa Square with Museum of Art History and Museum of Natural History.
The internal organization of the new 'Imperial and Royal Natural History Court Museum", which on 10 August was officially opened in 1889, goes back to the great geologist, New Zealand researcher and first director of the museum, Ferdinand von Hochstetter, and has been preserved largely in its clear systematic today. However, the proliferation of resources and new demands on the research and display collection activities required new spatial and structural solutions. Thus, an underground storage was created in 1990, which extends under the building on four levels and in fully air-conditioned rooms keeps a portion of the collection material. Due to the roof extension (1991 to 1995) further collection, but also numerous new working rooms were gained.
The research, the preservation and completing of the major scientific collections and the presentation of selected natural objects to this day have not lost any of their topicalities. In a time of increasingly rapid destruction of our environment, they are more important than ever. Just as the white patches have become smaller on the map, penetrates the science into ever smaller areas. Long scanning electron microscope and X-ray equipment have replaced hand magnifier. In the permanent exhibition area visitors also have access to advanced optical devices, especially in "Microcosmos" ( Hall 21). The preservation of collection, too, follows modern conservation knowledge.
Over a century ago, the Museum hace been created for the systematic presentation - the diversity of nature sorted strung together, the palace-like building, the interplay of means and objects as well as the historic atmosphere giving it a distinctive character.
Even with the redesign of many exhibition halls systematic classification was basically retained to make the visitors aware of the immense diversity of life. However, the presentation is successively adapted to the museological requirements and needs of the 21st century. Also presented are interesting topics and new contents in a contemporary didactic form.
Copyright Museum of Natural History
www.wien-konkret.at/kultur/museum/naturhistorisches-museu...
Wien, 1. Bezirk, Burgring/Bellariastraße/Museumstraße, Naturhistorisches Museum, Natural History Museum Vienna, Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle Vienne, Museo de Historia Natural de Viena, Museo di storia naturale (Vienna), Muzeum Historii Naturalnej
History of the Museum
Scientific research and gathering in Austria found relatively late understanding and promotion. Indeed contained the chambers of art and curiosities of the Habsburgs also natural produce but for a long time they have been regarded as mere oddities, not as objects of scientific importance. It was not until Emperor Franz I. (Francis Stephen of Lorraine, 1745-1765), the husband of Maria Theresia, founded in 1748 with the purchase of the famous collection of Johann Baillous a private Naturalienkabinett. It was put up in accordance to Baillous' own scientific system in the Hofburg and was initially managed by this self.
The main emphasis was put on minerals and fossils as well as snail and mussel shells and corals. Plants and animals with soft parts were then (mainly because of the preparation problems) yet little appreciated as collector's items. They were held alive in botanical gardens and menageries.
After the death of Francis I the collection in which the Emperor had invested large sums of money was transferred into state ownership, reorganized and made twice a week accessible to the public. 1776 appointed Maria Theresa, particularly dear to her being mainly the earth sciences as a basis for mining and industry, the excellent mineralogist and montanist Ignaz von Born to Vienna and entrusted him with the systematic expansion of the collection. Born was a leader of the Enlightenment and Freemasonry, he might even have given the model for Sarastro in Mozart's "Magic Flute". With him for "Austria", definitely, dawned the scientific-technological age. The Naturalienkabinett (a cabinet of curiosities) then became a center of mineralogical research in Europe.
The nature-loving Emperor Franz II (I, 1792-1835) expanded the natural history collection for a private animal cabinet. The foundation for this were the trophies of the Habsburgs, which date back to Emperor Maximilian II (1564-1576), as well as the famous collection of prepared native vertebrates and insects of the falconer Joseph Natterer. After several reclassifications followed in 1807 the foundation of a separate plants cabinet. The Emperor lay with the gift of his Privatherbars (private plant collection) the foundation.
The exhibition practice around 1800 was marked by an often curious juxtaposition of little scientific and very progressive tendencies. The stuffed animals were shown in artificial landscape dioramas, ie already in ecological context. Alongside, however, stood also Stopfpräparate (stuffed compounds) of people of non-native breeds such as the "high princely Moor' Angelo Soliman, who came to literary fame.
The eminent scholar and organizer Carl Schreibers who from 1806 until 1851 headed the Natural History Collection, provided for key reforms in all areas. He extented all departments to major research centers and was supported not only by the museum officials, but also by a number of often highly skilled, unpaid volunteers.
On the occasion of the marriage of his daughter Leopoldina with the Brazilian crown prince Dom Pedro in 1817 sent Emperor Franz also well-known researchers to South America. Through their collecting activities, the growth of the museum's experienced a glorious climax. So stayed the zoologist Johann Natterer for 18 years in South America and established an in an exemplary manner documented collection of scientific and ethnographic objects for Vienna. This contributed significantly to the worldwide reputation of the museum, but also led to a decades-long lack of space.
With various, not always felicitous chosen emergency solutions on tried in vain to handle space problems sussesfully. During the revolutionary turmoil of 1848, the Imperial Palace was bombarded by imperial troops and partially set on fire. A part of the collection was destroyed, tragically, also many irreplaceable objects from the Brazilian material.
In the years after the Revolution, the collection was converted into an independent zoological, botanical and mineralogical Hofkabinett (Court cabinet). These cabinets with their extremely rich stocks offered not only ideal possibilities to explore, they contributed to the establishment of scientific disciplines in the university sector in 1870 also considerably to the formation of young scientists. The collections have been enhanced through exchange and purchases, by the collecting activities of the researchers as well as legacies, especially of scientifically inclined travelers, constantly . In addition, the by the Imperial Court generously funded cooperation with the Austrian navy became very important: Especially the circumnavigation of the world of the frigate "Novara" (1857-1859), which was attended by numerous excellent naturalist, gave an exceedingly rich collection of new material to the museum. The scientific word off should take decades.
This scientific Poiniergeist (pioneering spirit), reflecting the general belief in progress in the second half of the 18th Century, was facing the more and more oppressive need of space. Although Emperor Franz Joseph had already in 1857 the razing of the fortification lines around the city center ordered. On the cleared area should along a boulevard alongside other representative public buildings also new museums emerge. Up to the completion of this project, however, it was still a long way to go.
The liberal bourgeoisie then undergoing a steep political and economic upswing was inclined to replace the old cabinets through research and education centers for broad strata of the population and thus make its own cultural advancement clearly visible. But the neo-absolutist empire of the gradually decaying Habsburg monarchy, too, wanted erect itself a modern, artistically accomplished monument: A monumental Imperial Forum following the ancient example was planned, that should be reaching from the Imperial Palace to the royal stables. Realized of it was only a torso: the New Castle and Maria Theresa Square with Museum of Art History and Museum of Natural History.
The internal organization of the new 'Imperial and Royal Natural History Court Museum", which on 10 August was officially opened in 1889, goes back to the great geologist, New Zealand researcher and first director of the museum, Ferdinand von Hochstetter, and has been preserved largely in its clear systematic today. However, the proliferation of resources and new demands on the research and display collection activities required new spatial and structural solutions. Thus, an underground storage was created in 1990, which extends under the building on four levels and in fully air-conditioned rooms keeps a portion of the collection material. Due to the roof extension (1991 to 1995) further collection, but also numerous new working rooms were gained.
The research, the preservation and completing of the major scientific collections and the presentation of selected natural objects to this day have not lost any of their topicalities. In a time of increasingly rapid destruction of our environment, they are more important than ever. Just as the white patches have become smaller on the map, penetrates the science into ever smaller areas. Long scanning electron microscope and X-ray equipment have replaced hand magnifier. In the permanent exhibition area visitors also have access to advanced optical devices, especially in "Microcosmos" ( Hall 21). The preservation of collection, too, follows modern conservation knowledge.
Over a century ago, the Museum hace been created for the systematic presentation - the diversity of nature sorted strung together, the palace-like building, the interplay of means and objects as well as the historic atmosphere giving it a distinctive character.
Even with the redesign of many exhibition halls systematic classification was basically retained to make the visitors aware of the immense diversity of life. However, the presentation is successively adapted to the museological requirements and needs of the 21st century. Also presented are interesting topics and new contents in a contemporary didactic form.
Copyright Museum of Natural History
www.wien-konkret.at/kultur/museum/naturhistorisches-museu...