--- type: exposition title: Better Times? language: en url: "https://www.belvedere.at/en/better-times" --- # Better Times? ## Waldmüller and Biedermeier Vienna ![ Am Fronleichnamsmorgen](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/header_cropped_1920x480_fp/public/2021-03/Lg63.jpg.webp?itok=-D4_heGj) **Duration:** 12 May 2021 - 27 February 2022 *Biedermeier* – the much quoted and oft discussed word of our age: have idyllic, middle-class mores taken hold within our society? What, in fact, is Biedermeier? Does the contemplation of this era mean looking back on *Better Times*? This special exhibition in the Upper Belvedere tells of the period of the Metternich restoration, the empowerment of the middle class and its simultaneous retreat from the sphere of political responsibility into the private sphere. Curated by Rolf H. Johannsen. ### [Upper Belvedere](https://www.belvedere.at/en/visit/upper-belvedere) **Opening hours:** Monday to Sunday, 9 am - 6 pm **Address:** Upper Belvedere, 1030 Vienna ([Getting there]()) [Tickets](https://www.belvedere.at/en/tickets?location%5B0%5D=1) ##### In cooperation with - [Die Presse](https://www.diepresse.com/) - [Parnass](https://www.parnass.at/) ## Impressions - ![Am Fronleichnamsmorgen — Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller, On Corpus Christi morning, 1857 — © Belvedere, Vienna / On loan from the Society of Friends of the Österreichische Galerie Belvedere](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2021-03/Lg63.jpg.webp?itok=F_7lHp4N) - ![Der Abschied der Patin (Nach der Firmung) — Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller, After Confirmation (The departure of the Godmother) 1859 — Belvedere, Vienna, On loan from the Society of Friends of the Österreichische Galerie Belvedere](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2021-03/353.jpg.webp?itok=MTLfcx55) - ![Der Stephansdom in Wien — Rudolf von Alt, The St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, 1832 — Photo: Johannes Stoll / Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2021-03/2081.jpg.webp?itok=5vG8jhkF) - ![Porträt des Malers Georg Ferdinand Waldmüller von ihm selbst gemahlt — Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller, Self-portrait as a young Man, 1828 — Photo: Johannes Stoll / Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2021-03/2121.jpg.webp?itok=Mpv0MDXM) - ![Mädchen vor dem Lotteriegewölbe — Peter Fendi, Girl in front of the Lottery Vault, 1829 — Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2021-03/2177.jpg.webp?itok=sj5OXW3y) - ![Rudolf von Arthaber und seine Kinder Rudolf, Emilie und Gustav — Friedrich von Amerling, Rudolf von Arthaber with his children Rudolf, Emilie and Gustav, 1837 — Photo: Johannes Stoll / Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2021-03/2245.jpg.webp?itok=OMztCCXf) - ![Stilleben mit Rosen, Leuchter und silbernem Becher — Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller, Bouquet of Roses at the Window, 1832 — Photo: Johannes Stoll / Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2021-03/3928.jpg.webp?itok=Yez0DYt1) - ![Der Dachstein vom Sophien-Doppelblick bei Ischl — Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller, View of the Dachstein from the "Sophien-Doppelblick" near Ischl, 1835 — Photo: Johannes Stoll / Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2021-03/5712.jpg.webp?itok=0B80aAAI) - ![Marie Freiin Vesque von Püttlingen — Friedrich von Amerling, Marie Freiin Vesque von Püttlingen, 1832 — © Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2021-03/5876.jpg.webp?itok=n6xPARj0) - ![Wallsteins Grab — Josef Danhauser, Wallstein’s Grave,1828 — © Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2021-03/6048.jpg.webp?itok=yd-ATsUV) - ![Der Großglockner mit der Pasterze — Thomas Ender, Grossglockner with Pasterze Glacier, 1832 — Photo: Johannes Stoll / Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2021-03/6068.jpg.webp?itok=UrJ4GVTD) - ![Blumenkranz mit Madonnenrelief — Pauline Koudelka-Schmerling, Garland with Madonna relief, 1834 — Photo: Johannes Stoll / Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2021-03/7764.jpg.webp?itok=H5eZITmb) - ![Ausstellungsraum mit Biedermeier-Gemälden an der Wand — Exhibition view BETTER TIMES? Waldmüller and Biedermeier Vienna — Photo: Johannes Stoll / Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2021-05/Bessere%20Zeiten%20OB%202021%20Presse-1.jpg.webp?itok=emtmbl-9) - ![Ausstellungsraum mit Biedermeier-Gemälden an der Wand — Exhibition view BETTER TIMES? Waldmüller and Biedermeier Vienna — Photo: Johannes Stoll / Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2021-05/Bessere%20Zeiten%20OB%202021%20Presse-4.jpg.webp?itok=VgIWaw27) - ![Ausstellungsraum mit Biedermeier-Gemälden an der Wand — Exhibition view BETTER TIMES? Waldmüller and Biedermeier Vienna — Photo: Johannes Stoll / Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2021-05/Bessere%20Zeiten%20OB%202021%20Presse-5.jpg.webp?itok=XFeEr1js) - ![Ausstellungsraum mit Biedermeier-Gemälden an der Wand — Exhibition view BETTER TIMES? Waldmüller and Biedermeier Vienna — Photo: Johannes Stoll / Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2021-05/Bessere%20Zeiten%20OB%202021%20Presse-8.jpg.webp?itok=6iNQgFnr) - ![Ausstellungsraum mit Biedermeier-Gemälden an der Wand — Exhibition view BETTER TIMES? Waldmüller and Biedermeier Vienna — Photo: Johannes Stoll / Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2021-05/Bessere%20Zeiten%20OB%202021%20Presse-9.jpg.webp?itok=Tp4dci0C) - ![Ausstellungsraum mit Biedermeier-Gemälden an der Wand — Exhibition view BETTER TIMES? Waldmüller and Biedermeier Vienna — Photo: Johannes Stoll / Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2021-05/Bessere%20Zeiten%20OB%202021%20Presse-10.jpg.webp?itok=hH0X3y6J) ## The Exhibition ![Rudolf von Arthaber und seine Kinder Rudolf, Emilie und Gustav — Friedrich von Amerling, Rudolf von Arthaber with his children Rudolf, Emilie and Gustav, 1837 — Photo: Johannes Stoll / Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/full_content_width_no_crop/public/2021-03/2245.jpg.webp?itok=-DF1VrDW) The Habsburg Monarchy in the first half of the nineteenth century: the French Revolution and Napoleon have shaken it to its foundations – it endeavors to regain its old strength by means of repression. Meanwhile, the middle class is attaining a new, hitherto unknown self-awareness. The focus is on the family, the proverbial sort of domestic happiness. At the same time, its protagonists withdraw from political life. This was the starting point for a new style: the Viennese Biedermeier. The ostensible idyll of the private was turned into the prevailing ideal. Depictions of domestic life increasingly found their way into art. Salon culture was booming. Family portraits, glimpses into tranquil domesticity, and floral pictures became popular in the visual arts during this time. The local landscape as a point of identification also became a fashionable motif. Nevertheless, art was not entirely uncritical during this period: representations of supposedly contemplative or touching scenes reveal the complete opposite upon closer inspection. Poverty and social exclusion are the “hidden” themes in Biedermeier painting. With this exhibition, curator Rolf H. Johannsen addresses the fact and fiction behind an influential epoch for Vienna and the history of its art. With works by Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller, Friedrich von Amerling, Rosalia Amon, Josef Danhauser, Thomas Ender, Peter Fendi, Pauline Koudelka-Schmerling, Carl Schindler, Franz Steinfeld, Adalbert Stifter, and others. ## Video ## Smartify ### Explore the exhibition with Smartify Unleash the stories behind the works with our Smartify app. Immerse yourself in the world of Biedermeier and enjoy the free audio tour directly on your smartphone. Here's how it works: - Go to Apple or Android webstores to download the app for free. - Open the app and hold your smartphone camera up to the artworks to ‘scan’ them. - Download the audio tour directly to your smartphone by using the in-app purchase function. Have fun! ![Download im Apple App Store](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/media-directories/logo-apple-appstore.png) ![Download im Google Play Store](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/media-directories/logo-google-playstore.png)