The Rockox House, PAC member (Private Art Collections, Vienna)

Private Art Collections is an initiative of the Liechtenstein Museum in Vienna, bringing together collections created by the patronage of Austrian high nobility, aristocracy and leading citizens.

The history of these collections is both diverse and fascinating; some having been scattered to the four corners of the world, others amalgamated into other collections. Due to its very size and quality, the principal among these princely collections was undoubtedly the Liechtenstein collection, which had early on been opened to the general public. Alongside it were many others, such as the family collection of the Counts Harrach, the Esterházy collection, the Schönborn-Buchheim collection, the Czernin collection, the Lamberg collection, and the Metternich and Kaunitz collections.

With the return of the Prince of Lichtenstein’s collection to Vienna in March 2004, this almost forgotten aspect of Vienna’s rich cultural life was back in the spotlight once more, igniting the idea of bringing together other existing private collections of the Austrian aristocracy and exhibiting them once again in public.

Private Art Collections is an exchange platform, a loose association for the organisation of future joint exhibitions. PAC members assist each other in completing the respective collections, in organising joint appearances on the international exhibition scene, and promoting other events including concerts.

More recently, a number of other collections from outside Austria, including the Rockox House, have joined the PAC.

For more information about the PAC and its members, go to www.liechtensteinmuseum.at.