The Black Von Scrolls

Restored in 2000, you are now able to visit these Habsburg staterooms inside the Albertina museum in Vienna. There are Rococo rooms and oodles wealth from the 18th century, riches one would expect to see of European royals.

Is it Meissen? Or is it Jeff Koons?

Under a chandelier

Silk textiles and gold decor abound

Emperor Stephan von Lothringen (Francis I), Jean-Étienne Liotard

Empress Maria Theresa (by fabulous court painter Jean-Étienne Liotard)

Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina was the queen bee matriarch of all Habsburgs, and the only female ruler of the dynasty. She bore sixteen children, many of who survived to adulthood (including Queen Marie Antoinette). She is known for writing her children letters once a fortnight and kept a close eye on their lives. Maria Theresa was devout to Catholicism and extremely anti-Semitic; she expelled both Jews and Protestants from Austria. Her son, Joseph II, did not agree with her views.

Emperor Joseph II, son of Maria Theresa and Francis I

Portrait of Archduchess Marie-Christine, beloved daughter of Maria Theresa, wife of Duke of Saxony-Teschen.

Marie Christine was Maria Theresa’s favorite daughter.

The reign of Maria Theresa and her heirs provide fascinating stories. While in mid-research for my painting project last year, I was close to choosing this lineage of Habsburg-Lorraines as my focus. But the Spanish Habsburgs trumped them, mainly due to many of Diego Velázquez’s intriguing court portraits and their disturbing tale of extinction.