Special Exhibition 2027

DESTINED FOR GRANDEUR

Decius Mus and the Battle at Mount Vesuvius

Next year will mark the 450th anniversary of the birth of Peter Paul Rubens – one of the most influential artists in the history of art. The Liechtenstein Princely Collections are preparing to kick off the anniversary year with an exhibition celebrating a spectacular rediscovery.

 

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“Destined for Grandeur. Decius Mus and the Battle at Mount Vesuvius” will go on display at the Liechtenstein GARDEN PALACE in Vienna, from 29 January to 29 March 2027, and will showcase a seldom-seen early work by the Flemish master.

The Liechtenstein Princely Collections are home to the largest privately owned Rubens collection in the world. At the heart of this extraordinary collection lies the monumental Decius Mus cycle: a suite of eight paintings and selected tapestries that depict, over the course of several scenes, the ancient historical tale of the Roman general Publius Decius Mus. As a dramatic story of the willingness to sacrifice oneself in the name of freedom and community, it has lost none of its relevance or stirring potential in today’s world.

The paintings were created as designs for tapestries and offer fascinating insights into Rubens’ powers of invention, the organized division of labour within his famous Antwerp workshop, and his strategic view of the art market of the period.

For the first time in decades and following extensive scientific research and conservation-restoration, the full cycle will be presented in its entirety once again. Complemented by major international loans as well as other high-profile works from the Princely Collections themselves, the exhibition marks an eye-catching start to the Rubens anniversary year. It opens up new perspectives not only on Rubens’ working methods and studio practice, but also on the interpenetration of art, politics, and diplomacy in the European Baroque.