The Secession building (German: Wiener Secessionsgebäude) is an exhibition hall built in 1897 by Joseph Maria Olbrich as an architectural manifesto for the Vienna Secession, located in Vienna, Austria[1]. Secession refers to the seceding of a group of rebel artists from the long-established fine art institution.
[edit] Description
The building features the Beethoven Frieze by Gustav Klimt,[2] one of the most widely recognized artworks of Secession style (a branch of Art Nouveau, also known as Jugendstil). The building was financed by Karl Wittgenstein,[3] the father of Ludwig Wittgenstein.
The motto of the Secessionist movement is written above the entrance of the pavilion: "To every age its art, to art its freedom" (German: Der Zeit ihre Kunst. Der Kunst ihre Freiheit). Below this is a sculpture of three gorgons representing painting, sculpture, and architecture.
[edit] Trivia
The building was selected as the main motif of one of the Austrian gold collectors' coins: the 100 euro Secession commemorative coin, minted in 10 November 2004. On the obverse side there is a view of the hall.
The building also appears (from a different perspective) on the regular €0.50 Austrian coin.
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Jugendstil owls - Detail of the facade of the Viennese Secession Building. These designs for building’s facade decoration are attributed to Koloman Moser. |
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Painting, Architecture, and Sculpture
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[edit] References
