A sphinx attracts him - Maximilian of Habsburg and the Egyptian collections between Trieste and Vienna

Description

From 2 April to 1 November 2026, the Scuderie of Miramare Castle will host an exhibition dedicated to Archduke Maximilian of Habsburg’s passion for Ancient Egypt. Over one hundred artefacts recount the story of his collection, poised between a personal dream and the emergence of the museum as a public heritage institution. Thanks to the collaboration with the Kunsthistorisches Museum, part of the collection transferred to Vienna in the nineteenth century will exceptionally return to Trieste. Enriched by loans from the Civic Museum of Antiquities J. J. Winckelmann, the exhibition retraces the stages of the collection — from early acquisitions to diplomatic missions, and the journey of the artefacts between Trieste, Mexico and Vienna — highlighting the evolution of collecting from private passion to shared cultural heritage.

Exhibition by
Miramare Castle Historical Museum and Park

Curators
Massimo Osanna, Christian Greco, Cäcilia Bischoff, Michaela Hüttner

Co-organised with
Kunsthistorisches Museum

With the scientific contribution of
Museo Egizi

From 2 April to 1 November 2026
10:30 am – 6:30 pm
Tickets: here
Educational activities: here
 

Organized by:

Museo storico e Parco del Castello di Miramare
Curatori: Massimo Osanna, Christian Greco, Cäcilia Bischoff, Michaela Hüttner
Co-organizzata con Kunsthistorisches Museum
Con il contributo scientifico di Museo Egizio
Realizzata con CoopCulture; MondoMostre