Ambassadors-collectors

This research project will investigate the collections and the contribution to art patronage of Italian ambassadors, envoys, and nuncios in Vienna during the reign of Maria Theresia (17401780). These diplomats, residing in Vienna for extended periods, not only engaged deeply with the citys artistic and cultural scene but also acted as vital cultural brokers between their home countries and the imperial city: they commissioned artworks from artists in Italy, bringing them to Vienna, and at the same time recommended Austrian artists to Italy, facilitating the exchange of models, know-hows, and taste. They not only imported paintings of Italian schools to Vienna but exported paintings of northern European schools to the Italian states. Moreover, these diplomats were refined collectors and participated in the art market, having important contacts in Italy, from where many art works came to be resold in Vienna. Based on the case study of Luigi Malabaila di Canale, ambassador of the King of Sardinia (FWF Project T1203G), and studying hitherto unknown archival records and sources (correspondences, documents, contracts, bills, ...) as well as sale catalogues of painting collections, the project will examine in detail the patronage and collecting practice of six Italian ambassadors in Vienna. By examining individual collectors as singular case studies and contextualizing them into a broader system, the project aims to identify common elements and characteristics. This research promises to offer new insights into the art-historical significance of diplomatic activities and their enduring impact on cultural exchange between Italy and Vienna, highlighting the importance of these diplomatic art patrons within the international network of ambassadors-collectors.