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Prince Franz I von Liechtenstein

1853–1938
Porträt des Fürsten Franz I. von und zu Liechtenstein

Hermann Clemens Kosel (1867–1945), Portrait of Prince Franz I von Liechtenstein (1853–1938)

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Porträt des Fürsten Johann II. von und zu Liechtenstein

Predecessor

Prince Johann II von Liechtenstein
FO02309_PR_R01G01_37407_ed.jpeg

Successor

Prince Franz Josef II von und zu Liechtenstein

Prince Franz I von Liechtenstein served as Austro-Hungarian ambassador in St Petersburg from 1894 to 1898. He received numerous distinctions for his many academic initiatives. On 30 March 1938, not long before his death, he handed over the affairs of government to his great-nephew Franz Josef II von und zu Liechtenstein.

The younger son of Prince Alois II (1796–1858) and his wife Franziska, Franz I was born at Schloss Liechtenstein near Mödling on 28 August 1853. He married Baroness Elsa Erös von Bethlenfalva, née von Gutmann (1875–1947) on 22 July 1929. The couple remained childless. Following the death of his brother, Prince Johann II (1840–1929), who also died without issue, he assumed the regency over the House of Liechtenstein in 1929. On 25 July 1938 Franz died at Schloss Feldsberg (Valtice), to which he had retreated together with his wife, who was of Jewish descent, after the invasion of Austria by the National Socialists. He had transferred the regency to his successor Prince Franz Josef II (1906–1989) on 30 March.

DIPLOMACY AND SERVICES TO HISTORICAL RESEARCH

For a long time Franz I stood in the shadow of his brother Prince Johann II, assisting him in the administration of his estates and often representing him. His character was shaped by his legal training and early entrance into the diplomatic service. 

From 1894 to 1898 he was Imperial-Royal ambassador in St Petersburg, where he sought to improve relations between Russia and the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. 

The purchase of the extensive library of the Russian historian Wassili Bilbassow formed the basis for the chair and seminar in Eastern European History established at the University of Vienna in 1907.

However, it was not in the field of politics that Franz I’s ambassadorial activities had the greatest success but in that of historical sciences. He spent large sums of money on historical publications. He succeeded in gaining access to Russian archives for Austrian historians, in the conviction that learning about Russia’s history was the key to better understanding of the country and to improving relations between the two states.

The purchase of the extensive library of the Russian historian Wassili Bilbassow (1837–1904) formed the basis for the chair and seminar in Eastern European History established at the University of Vienna in 1907, which he also continued to fund. His interest in art and culture is further attested to by his work for the Imperial-Royal Central Commission for the Protection of Monuments, of which he was president from 1911. 

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Josef Neugebauer (1810–1895), Portrait of the future Prince Franz I. von Liechtenstein (1853–1938) at the Age of Eight, 1861
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Porträt des späteren Fürsten Franz I. von Liechtenstein (1853–1938) im Alter von 8 Jahren
Fürst Franz I. und Fürstin Elsa von Liechtenstein bei der Jagd
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Portrait of the Future Prince Franz I von Liechtenstein (1853–1938...

1861


Josef Neugebauer (1810–1895)


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Prince Franz I and Princess Elsa von Liechtenstein on a shoot

1929/38


H. Sträussler


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WORKS FROM THE GUTMANN COLLECTION

In 1932 Franz I acquired the Kalwang estate in Styria from his wife’s family. This purchase was also significant in terms of his collecting activity, as a large number of artworks came with the estate, some of which are still held in the Princely Collections. These pictures attest not only to the standing of the Gutmann family as bankers and benefactors – in Kalwang they founded the hospital that continues to exist to this day – but also as collectors of art.

The purchase of the Kalwang estate brought with it a large number of artworks, some of which are still held in the Princely Collections today.

During his brief reign, Franz I was thus able to introduce a number of important artworks, principally paintings, into the Princely Collections. Among these mention should be made of “St Eustace”, a small panel attributed to Hans Hoffmann (c. 1530–1592) that draws on Albrecht Dürer’s (1471–1528) engraving of 1501/02 and is an excellent example of the renewed influence of Dürer towards the end of the sixteenth century.

Another treasure acquired with the Kalwang estate was a crossbow decorated with precious ivory carvings. Even the cranequin for spanning the bowstring with its iron rack and pinion has survived. Rather than taking their themes from the hunt as might be expected, the scenes carved in ivory focus on the subject of feminine wiles with reference to the Old Testament and antiquity.

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Hans Hoffmann (1545/50–1591/92; attributed); after Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528), St Eustace
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Der heilige Eustachius
Das Innere der Oude Kerk in Delft
Trauben, Früchte, Kaninchen und Meerschweinchen
Kaninchen, Eichhörnchen und Rehe
Schwäne und andere Vögel im Schilf
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St Eustace


Hans Hoffmann (1545/1550–1591/1592)<br><span class="text-upp...

<br><span class="text-uppercase mb-0">according to </span>Al...


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Armbrust

1547


Unbekannter Meister

The Interior of the Oude Kerk in Delft

3rd quarter 17th century.


Hendrick Cornelisz. van Vliet (1611–1675)


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Grapes, Fruits, Rabits and Guinea pigs


Jan van Kessel (1641–1680)


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Rabbits, Squirrels and Roe Deer


Jan van Kessel (1641–1680)


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Swans and other Birds in the Rushes


Jan van Kessel (1641–1680)


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Another important work introduced into the Collections by Franz I is the “Interior of the Oude Kerk in Delft” by Hendrick Cornelisz. van Vliet (1611–1675), acquired with the Kalwang estate in 1932 and an example of the exquisite quality of Dutch interior views from the middle of the seventeenth century.

Also of superb quality are the animal paintings and still lifes by Jan van Kessel (1626–1679) painted on small copper panels. Carefully restored in 2011, they number among the jewels of the Princely Collections.

RECORDS OF A PASSION – HUNTING AND PHOTOGRAPHY

The objects mentioned here attest to Franz I’s passion for hunting and how he cherished the legacy of all the estates where this passion could be indulged. 

Like his predecessor Johann II, the prince was open to photography – then the newest of all the technological arts.

He liked having photographs taken of himself while out shooting, showing him together with the game he had bagged in the extensive tracts of river meadows and forests around the confluence of the rivers Morava and Thaya. His ancestors Prince Alois I (1759–1805) and Prince Johann I (1760–1836) had laid out the extensive landscape gardens that still exist in the wider area around this location.

The era when painters and draughtsmen accompanied princes on their hunts, recording these events in sketches and oil paintings, had come to an end. Like his predecessor Johann II, the prince was open to photography – then the newest of all the technological arts.

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Anonymous Photographer, Prince Franz I and Princess Elsa von Liechtenstein on a Shoot
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Fürst Franz I. und Fürstin Elsa von Liechtenstein bei der Jagd
Fürst Franz I. von Liechtenstein bei der Jagd
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Prince Franz I and Princess Elsa von und zu Liechtenstein after a ...


Anonymous Photographer


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Prince Franz I von Liechtenstein on a shoot


Anonymous Photographer


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Objects of the Princely Collections acquired by

Prince Franz I von Liechtenstein

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Armbrust

Crossbow

Germany, 1547
1547

Armbrust

Crossbow

Germany, 1547
1547

Orden des Heiligen Andreas des Erstberufenen

Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle the First–Called

Albert Konstantin Keibel, Kokoshnik
19th century/donated 1698

Orden des Heiligen Andreas des Erstberufenen

Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle the First–Called

Albert Konstantin Keibel, Kokoshnik
19th century/donated 1698

Armbrustwinde

Cranequin for a crossbow

Germany, around 1580/90
around 1580/90

Armbrustwinde

Cranequin for a crossbow

Germany, around 1580/90
around 1580/90

Porträt der Hanna Klinkosch, ab 1890 verh. Prinzessin von Liechtenstein (1849–1925)

Portrait of Hanna Klinkosch (1849–1925), from 1890 Princess von Liechtenstein by marriage

Hans Makart
1875

Porträt der Hanna Klinkosch, ab 1890 verh. Prinzessin von Liechtenstein (1849–1925)

Portrait of Hanna Klinkosch (1849–1925), from 1890 Princess von Liechtenstein by marriage

Hans Makart
1875

Das Innere der Oude Kerk in Delft

The Interior of the Oude Kerk in Delft

Hendrick Cornelisz. van Vliet
3rd quarter 17th century.

Das Innere der Oude Kerk in Delft

The Interior of the Oude Kerk in Delft

Hendrick Cornelisz. van Vliet
3rd quarter 17th century.

Ruhende Herde bei römischen Ruinen

A Herd at Rest among Roman Ruins

Jan Baptist Weenix the Elder

Ruhende Herde bei römischen Ruinen

A Herd at Rest among Roman Ruins

Jan Baptist Weenix the Elder

Der heilige Eustachius

St Eustace

Hans Hoffmann, attributed according to Albrecht Dürer

Der heilige Eustachius

St Eustace

Hans Hoffmann, attributed according to Albrecht Dürer

Hunde hetzen einen Bären

Hunting Dogs and Bear

Johann Georg von Hamilton

Hunde hetzen einen Bären

Hunting Dogs and Bear

Johann Georg von Hamilton

Porträt des Fürsten Johann I. von Liechtenstein (1760–1836)

Portrait of Prince Johann I von Liechtenstein (1760–1836)

Anonymous Master, Copy to Johann Baptist Lampi
before 1816

Porträt des Fürsten Johann I. von Liechtenstein (1760–1836)

Portrait of Prince Johann I von Liechtenstein (1760–1836)

Anonymous Master, Copy to Johann Baptist Lampi
before 1816

Ein Rochen und andere tote Fische am Ufer

A Ray and Other Dead Fish on a Shore

Jan van Kessel

Ein Rochen und andere tote Fische am Ufer

A Ray and Other Dead Fish on a Shore

Jan van Kessel

Fischotter und andere Tiere kämpfen um tote Fische

Otters and Other Animals Fighting over Dead Fish

Jan van Kessel

Fischotter und andere Tiere kämpfen um tote Fische

Otters and Other Animals Fighting over Dead Fish

Jan van Kessel

Tote Fische und eine Schildkröte am Ufer

Dead Fish and a Terrapin on a River Bank

Jan van Kessel

Tote Fische und eine Schildkröte am Ufer

Dead Fish and a Terrapin on a River Bank

Jan van Kessel

Zwei Wölfe streiten um ein gerissenes Schaf

Two Wolves Fighting over a Killed Sheep

Anonymous Master, Type of Frans Snyders

Zwei Wölfe streiten um ein gerissenes Schaf

Two Wolves Fighting over a Killed Sheep

Anonymous Master, Type of Frans Snyders

Ein Knabenkopf

Head of a Young Boy

Theodor Georgii
1937

Ein Knabenkopf

Head of a Young Boy

Theodor Georgii
1937

Verschneites Dorf mit Hl. Familie auf der Flucht nach Aegypten

Snow-covered Village with the Holy Family on the Flight into Egypt

Gysbrecht Lytens

Verschneites Dorf mit Hl. Familie auf der Flucht nach Aegypten

Snow-covered Village with the Holy Family on the Flight into Egypt

Gysbrecht Lytens

Ein Blumenstrauss in einer Vase

A Bouquet in a Vase

Germany, 18th century
18th c.

Ein Blumenstrauss in einer Vase

A Bouquet in a Vase

Germany, 18th century
18th c.

Ein Blumenstrauss in einer Vase

A Bouquet in a Vase

Germany, 18th century
18th c.

Ein Blumenstrauss in einer Vase

A Bouquet in a Vase

Germany, 18th century
18th c.

Alltagstreiben vor einem Schloss

Everyday Scene in front of a Castle

Adriaen Frans Boudewijns

Alltagstreiben vor einem Schloss

Everyday Scene in front of a Castle

Adriaen Frans Boudewijns

Flusslandschaft mit italienischem Schloss

River Landscape with Italian Castle

Adriaen Frans Boudewijns

Flusslandschaft mit italienischem Schloss

River Landscape with Italian Castle

Adriaen Frans Boudewijns

Madonna mit Kind, der heiligen Cäcilia und der heiligen Katharina

Madonna and Child with St Cecilia and St Catherine

Italy, 1st half of the 16th century.
1st half of the 16th century.

Madonna mit Kind, der heiligen Cäcilia und der heiligen Katharina

Madonna and Child with St Cecilia and St Catherine

Italy, 1st half of the 16th century.
1st half of the 16th century.

Porträt einer Frau

Portrait of a Woman

Germany, 1570
1570

Porträt einer Frau

Portrait of a Woman

Germany, 1570
1570

Porträt eines Mannes

Portrait of a Man

Germany, 1570
1570

Porträt eines Mannes

Portrait of a Man

Germany, 1570
1570

Rast auf der Flucht nach Aegypten

Rest on the Flight into Egypt

Alexander Keirincx

Rast auf der Flucht nach Aegypten

Rest on the Flight into Egypt

Alexander Keirincx

Visus (Sehsinn)   Serie der fünf Sinne

Visus (Sight) from the series of the Five Senses

Netherlands, around 1700
c. 1700

Visus (Sehsinn)   Serie der fünf Sinne

Visus (Sight) from the series of the Five Senses

Netherlands, around 1700
c. 1700

Adler machen Leoparden einen gerissenen Hirsch streitig

Eagles Challenging Leopards for Their Kill, a Stag

Carl Ruthart

Adler machen Leoparden einen gerissenen Hirsch streitig

Eagles Challenging Leopards for Their Kill, a Stag

Carl Ruthart

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LIECHTENSTEIN. The Princely Collections, Vaduz–Vienna

Fürstliche Sammlungen Art Service GmbH
Fürstengasse 1
1090 Vienna, Austria

phone: +43 1 319 13 91–0
fax: +43 1 319 13 91–820
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