Imperial Palace Innsbruck

Besides the Viennese Imperial Palace and the Palace Schönbrunn also the Imperial Palace at Innsbruck has an important Imperial appartement that has been used as a museum for a long time. With regard to the forthcoming restauration this project will elaborate the historical evolution of its furnishing and interior decorations in a monographic publication. Completed by material-scientific expertise the evaluation of archival records, architectural plans and drawings will contribute to an overall portrayal of different development stages as well as today`s shape of the Imperial Palace at Innsbruck.

The Imperial Palace at Innsbruck reckons among the most important historical buildings besides the Viennese Imperial Palace and the Palace Schönbrunn. Accompanying the meanwhile indispensable and comprehensive restoration of the building it was the aim of this research project to gain results concerning the history of interior decoration and furnishing of the Imperial Palace at Innsbruck. The publication of the findings will present an important section of the Austrian history of arts and culture to a scientific as well as public audience. The eventful history of the Imperial Palace at Innsbruck commenced about 1400. Under Emperor Maximilian I. and by a splendid late-medieval building it reached its first climax. The redesign into a Renaissance Palace followed under Emperor Ferdinand I. Under the reign of Maria Theresia the Imperial Palace got its baroque appearance. After that, above all its interior decoration and furnishing changed. The formation of interiors is much more subject to change than any opus of graphic art or the architecture of facades. Variable requirements and a changing taste lead ever again to redecorations and refurnishing. The direct need triggered by sojourns of member of the imperial family, ceremonial and representation prayed a fundamental role. The successors of Maria Theresia created interiors that suited their necessities and tastes. The range of styles stretches from Rococo to Empire and Biedermeier to historical style reception. As a particularity of the Biedermeier style, the furniture of the Cabinetmaker Johann Geyr from Innsbruck established in 1838. Until today preserved are remarkable parts of complete interior decorations of the Viennese court-sculptor August La Vigne, that he created from 1858 onwards. The publication will elaborate the historical evolution of furnishing and interior decorations of the Imperial Palace at Innsbruck and will give an overall portrayal of different development stages as well as of its today`s shape. Archival records, architectural plans and drawings as well as historical and actual photographs will illustrate it. The findings also lead to a fundamentally renewed presentation concept of the Imperial Palace at Innsbruck.