Christmas - Austria / II. Republic of Austria 2011 - 62 Euro Cent

Founded in 1933, the Cathedral and Diocesan Museum in Vienna is considered one of the "gems" within the diverse Viennese museum landscape. Located in the first district of Vienna on Stephansplatz, it displays art from over a thousand years in its permanent collection, especially works from St. Stephen's Cathedral and many other churches in Vienna and Lower Austria. The most valuable treasure is certainly the portrait of Duke Rudolf IV from the 14th century, which is considered the oldest painted portrait of the West. Also dating from the 14th century is the work "The Nativity" shown on the present Christmas stamp, a painting consisting of seven panel paintings whose creator is unknown. In addition to objects from the cathedral - including a fragment of the almost completely lost medieval glazing - are also numerous, originating from other churches of the Archdiocese of Vienna masterpieces of gold and silversmithing, sculpture and painting. The exhibition of the Dommuseum, which has been located in the so-called "Zwettlhof" since 1973, is an eloquent testimony to artistic creation from the early Middle Ages through Gothic and Baroque to Art Nouveau. Even from Carolingian times, the 9th century, comes the oldest object, an illuminated Gospel book. In addition, precious gems from the treasury of St. Stephen can be admired. These include unique textiles and glasses, such as the unusual shroud of Duke Rudolf IV the Founder, which was made from a Persian gold silk brocade, or rare Syrian glass jars from the period around 1300, which according to tradition, as reliquaries for those with the blood of the Innocent children of Bethlehem's soaked earth were used. In addition, the museum has an important collection of modern art from Austria, comprising almost 3,000 works, which is the result of the collecting activities of Monsignor Otto Mauer (1907 - 1973), the legendary patron of arts and cathedral preacher to St. Stephen. In the "Galerie nächst St. Stephan", which was opened in 1954, Mauer gave the young painters of the post-war period space to present their work. Parts of this collection kept by the museum, which include works by Alfred Kubin and Hans Fronius, but also by Arnulf Rainer, Josef Mikl, Markus Prachensky, Wolfgang Hollegha, Oswald Oberhuber u.v.a. are accessible again and again in temporary special exhibitions.