| Rudolf Leopold, an Austrian medical doctor, spent over five decades indulging his passion for art by collecting works by Austrian artists, including many paintings by Egon Schiele and Gustav Klimt, two of Austria’s most famous painters. After organizing international exhibits especially of Schiele’s works for many years, Leopold managed to play a large part in the increasing prominence of the artists. In 1994, in conjunction with the Republic of Austria and the Austrian National Bank, Leopold founded the Leopold Museum Private Foundation. The first aim of the foundation was to make his comprehensive collection accessible to the general public through the construction of a museum. In 2001, this goal was accomplished when the Leopold Museum first opened its doors. The Leopold Museum, a modern building in the courtyard of the Museumsquartier, stands in beautiful juxtaposition to the classical building surrounding it. It now houses the most expansive and important collection of Austrian modern art, comprising over 5000 works by Schiele, Klimt, Oskar Kokoschka, Richard Gerstl, Albin Egger-Lienz and many others. In addition, the Leopold has a number of temporary exhibitions every year, which feature both Austrian and international modern art. |
