The Lobkowicz Collections
The oldest, largest and most intact private collection in the Czech Republic, the Lobkowicz Collections' significance lies in their comprehensive nature, reflecting the cultural, social, political and economic life of Central Europe over six centuries. With the passage of the restitution laws in the early 1990s, it became possible for the Lobkowicz family to reassemble most of their extensive collections, making them available to the public in a family context after more than 50 years.
Encompassing almost every field, the collections feature world-famous paintings by the Brueghels, Canaletto, Bellotto, Cranach, Rubens and Veronese; medieval and renaissance works of art, ceramics spanning five centuries and exceptional arms and armor. It also includes the finest private library in Central Europe, as well as an unparalleled collection of musical instruments and autograph manuscripts by many of the greatest composers of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, including Beethoven and Mozart.
Apart from the aforementioned masterpieces, an outstanding element of the paintings collection are the family and royal portraits by painters such as Alonso Sánchez Coello, Juan Pantoja de la Cruz, Jacob Seisenegger and Hans Krell, as well as a celebrated image of the Spanish Infanta Margarita Theresa (c. 1655) attributed to Diego Velázquez. Of the later portraits of members, many are by leading Viennese painters of the 19th century such as Franz Schrotzberg and Friedrich von Amerling. From this time comes an outstanding group of over 50 pictures of all the Lobkowicz castles and estates by Carl Robert Croll.
Within the decorative arts part of the collections are to be seen important medieval and renaissance religious objects such as a Romanesque reliquary cross of c.1125, a guilt bust of a female saint of c. 1340 and the only surviving altarpiece (c.1520) by Hans Plock. The huge holding of ceramics include 16th and 17th century Italian majolica, the largest surviving Delft dinner service of c. 1685 by Lambertus Cleffius, 18th century Meissen porcelain and 19th century services from the family’s own Tynec factory. There is also Habaner faiance ware (c. 1600) and much oriental china and porcelain.
Of the extensive holdings of furniture, predominently Central European, but including Italian, French and Flemish work are magnificent pieces of inlay of pietra dura, ivory, mother of pearl, silver and tortoiseshell. There are many 17th century Eger cabinets and boxes as well as Biedermier furniture. In addition, in this vast assemblage are clocks, silver, scientific instruments, miniatures, coins, shells and other curiosities.