Viennese World – Toasting 35 Years of Austrian Collecting

Sotheby’s Vienna celebrated its 35^th anniversary in style last week, where 400 guests enjoyed a cocktail reception and private view of the exhibition A Glimpse Into Austria’s Private Collections at the Palais Schönborn-Batthyány in the heart of the city. The assembled works were a reflection of the diverse tastes and interests of Austria’s discerning collectors – and the property that Sotheby’s has helped them acquire over the past four decades from around the world. Several pieces were loaned by the Klimt Foundation, as well as works from other important private collections. Paintings by Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt and Sonia Delaunay sat happily alongside contemporary photographs by Jeff Wall and Thomas Struth. Click ahead to see highlights from this rich, fascinating survey of art and culture against the backdrop of a spectacular Viennese institution.