Forwards4all: 12/05/12

[forwards4all] Treasures of the Kunsthistorisches Museum

.

Treasures of the Kunsthistorisches Museum

The Kunstkammer Wien at the Kunsthistorisches Museum is due to reopen to the public on March 1, 2013. The collection, one of the world's most important surviving cabinets of curiosities, will soon be on show in superbly renovated surroundings.

Salt cellar (Saliera), Benvenuto Cellini, 1540-1543, Paris, gold, enamel, ebony, ivory, H. 26.3 cm , L. 28.5 cm, W. 21.5 cm. In 2002 the Kunstkammer (Chamber of Art and Wonders) had to be closed for structural and technical reasons. Following comprehensive rehabilitation and expansion of the exhibition tract, the collection of precious objects will reopen amid new splendor on March 1 next year. The new exhibition will comprise over 2,200 items in 20 rooms, devoted to different themes, occupying 2,700 square meters. The highlights will include superb goldsmithery such as the famous saliera (salt cellar) by Benvenuto Cellini, outstanding sculptures like the Krumlov madonna, masterly bronze figurines, intricate and bizarre ivory work and virtuoso carved stone vessels as well as clocks, complex automatons, rare scientific instruments and precious games.

The origins of the Kunstkammer Wien lie in the Habsburgs' chambers of art and wonders, accumulated in the late Middle Ages, and the renaissance and Baroque periods. These collections included works of exceptional quality, commissioned or acquired by the emperors and other members of the imperial family. During the renaissance and Baroque eras the chambers of art and wonders were seen as encyclopedic collections encompassing the entire knowledge of the day. Rare, curious and unusual objects were particularly valued. Princes and kings collected exotic and uncommon materials, to which they often ascribed magical powers, such as precious stones, ostrich eggs, coral, and shark's teeth, which were thought to be dragons' tongues. Artists created extraordinary masterpieces from these natural products.

Kunsthistorisches Museum

Two Lovers

Lapis lazuli dragon cup

The liberation of the Portuguese fortress Diu, after 1557.

Newly added round restaurant for visitors in Museum Premises.

~ Quick Links ~

__._,_.___

Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post | Start a new topic

Messages in this topic (1)

Recent Activity:

New Members 66

Visit Your Group

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

RULES OF THE GROUP:

1. COMMUNAL, ADULT STUFF AND RELATED CONTENT WILL NOT BE ENTERTAINED. Member found posting 'communal' and 'adult' stuff will be simply thrown out of the group. So be careful!

2. DO NOT SPAM OTHER MEMBERS OF THE GROUP BY POSTING UNWANTED EMAILS.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use

.

__,_._,___

[forwards4all] Typhoon Bopha hits Philippines

.

Typhoon Bopha hits Philippines

A powerful typhoon that washed away emergency shelters, a military camp and possibly entire families in the southern Philippines on December 4, 2012, has killed almost 350 people with nearly 400 missing, authorities said.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies issued an urgent appeal for $4.8 million to help people directly affected by the typhoon.

Residents brave heavy rains next to a tilted electric post after Typhoon Bophal hit the city of Tagum, Davao del Norter province, in southern island of Mindanao on December 4, 2012.

Residents carry the body of a flash-flood victim in the village of Andap, New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012.

Residents cross a river in the flash flood-hit village of Andap, New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines.

A resident dries their clothes amidst their toppled house at the flash flood-hit village of Andap, New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines.

Motorists traverse a flooded road in New Bataan town, Compostela Valley province on December 5, 2012, a day after the powerful Typhoon Bopha hit the province.

Residents from a nearby village carry their belongings as they evacuate to a safer place in the village of Andap, New Bataan town, Compostela Valley province.

The devastation brought about by powerful Typhoon Bopha is seen at Montevista township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines Wednesday.

Residents cross a river using suspended ropes at Andap, New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines.

Residents prepare to assess their house which was damaged by Typhoon Bopha in Butuan city in southeastern Philippines.

This photo provided by NASA and made from the International Space Station on Dec. 2, 2012, shows Typhoon Bopha moving toward the Philippines.