Belvedere Beauty

Reflecting on the last few months is a bittersweet thing to do.  It's unreal how quickly the time has gone by, and it feels like just last week that we had our first class with Frau Friederike at the Secession building.  From the beginning, every class with our wonderful art historian has been filled with information (2,000 years of Austrian history- as she kept reminding us!) I will definitely miss learning from Friederike and seeing her kindhearted smile.  

Of all the amazing pieces of history and places we visited, Belvedere stands out above the rest for me.  The palace and it's gardens are enchanting, with the most beautiful view overlooking Vienna. I visited Belvedere once before we had class there, without actually going inside, and I was happy to return for the full experience.  The elaborate white interior is glamorous yet simple, without being overwhelming with its ornamentation.  The artwork housed here is by some of my favorite artists; Monet, Van Gogh, and Klimt.  It was incredible to see some of these works up close, with all the detail and texture that just can't be compared to the representations of these masterpieces.  The art of Gustav Klimt surprised me with how expansive and wide-ranging his works are.  While comparing some of his portraits with the geometric style of the famous "Kiss", it's hard to believe they are by the same artist, yet this exemplifies his true mastery and understanding of his artwork.  

I can hardly believe that our quarter in Vienna is coming to it's close, and it has been such an adventure!! I will never forget all the incredible experiences we've had with our class! 

-Tori