Chamber of Art and Curiosities

The Chamber of Art and Curiosities ("Kunst- und Wunderkammer") is a cabinet of curiosities created by Ferdinand II, Archduke of Austria in the 16th century. Ferdinand II, son of Emperor Ferdinand I, was one of history’s most prominent collectors of art. The cultured humanist from the House of Habsburg accommodated his world-famous collections in a museum built specifically for that purpose (1572-1583, supplement 1589), making Schloss Ambras Innsbruck (Ambras Castle) the oldest museum in the world. As the only Renaissance Kunstkammer of its kind to have been preserved at its original location, the Chamber of Art and Curiosities represents an unrivalled cultural monument.

Representing an excellent example of a late Renaissance encyclopedic collection of its genre, it continues to be displayed at Ambras Castle in Innsbruck, the same setting since its inception. Ferdinand II, like many other rulers of the Renaissance, was interested in promoting the arts and sciences. He spent considerable time and money on his unique collection and converted the medieval Ambras Castle into a contemporary palace to display his possessions.

Beside the "chamber of art and curiosities" Ambras Castle is home to a famous collection of armouries and early modern weapons feature masterpieces of the European armourer’s art from the time of Emperor Maximilian I to Emperor Leopold I. The "Glassammlung Strasser" (Strasser Collection of Glass) boasts precious glassware from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. The "Habsburger Porträtgalerie" (Habsburg Portrait Gallery) laid out on three floors is open to visitors in summer. The paintings include works by famous painters such as Hans Burgkmair, Lucas Cranach the Younger, Giuseppe Arcimboldo, Peter Paul Rubens, Diego Velázquez, and others. Today, these collections at Ambras are administered by the KHM-Museumsverband, as the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna.

A variety of uncommon objects are on display, including a woodcarving of "Death" by Hans Leinberger, goblets, coral collections and artifacts, glass figures, centerpieces, mechanical toys, clocks and various instruments. Also, Asiatica of the period are included with a suit of samurai armor, a Ryukyu bowl, and a silk painting from China.

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Wikipedia