Programme
The Special Exhibit

The Special Exhibit

Programme

You vote, we exhibit!

In 2025, the Austrian National Library will once again present five "special exhibits" from its extensive holdings in the State Hall.

You can help decide which objects will be exhibited via online voting. In each of the six votings, there are three objects to choose from.

The "special exhibit" on display will be accompanied by a free expert talk, a blog post and a video (only available in German).

The current special exhibit The next special exhibit The following special exhibit

January 14, 2025 – March 9, 2025

The velvet and sable of Siegmund Baron von Herberstein

The winner of our most recent online voting "The dream of flying. Of flying machines and balloon flights" for the special exhibit is object 3: "The velvet and sable of Siegmund Baron von Herberstein" (book, Vienna, 1560). The winning object will be on display in the State Hall of the Austrian National Library from January 14 to March 9, 2025 and will be presented at an expert lecture (in German) on January 21, 2025.

In the first half of the 16th century, Siegmund Baron von Herberstein travelled all over Europe as an envoy of the House of Habsburg, including to the court of the Grand Duke of Moscow. His activities as a diplomat in the service of the Emperor were also reflected in his outward appearance. Unusually for the time, however, Herberstein added six full-page woodcuts of himself to his autobiography "Sigmund Freyherr zů Herberstain Neyperg vnd Guttenhag oberster Erbcamrer vnd oberster Druchsas in Kärnttn [...]", printed in Vienna in 1560. They show him in the splendid robes he wore at audiences with the Habsburg Emperor, the Grand Duke of Moscow or the Turkish Sultan, or which he had received as gifts from these rulers.

March 11 – April 27, 2025

Francesco Colonna: Hypnerotomachie, ou discours du songe 

The winner of our most recent online voting "Farewell spring fever" for the special exhibit is object 3: "Francesco Colonna: Hypnerotomachie, ou discours du songe" (Book, Paris, 1546). The winning object will be on display in the State Hall of the Austrian National Library from March 11 to April 27, 2025 and will be presented at an expert lecture (in German) on March 18, 2025.

In a dream, Poliphilo (Poliphile in French) sets off in search of his beloved Polia. He wanders through an enchanted landscape, encountering scenes and figures from ancient mythology and ancient Egyptian culture. But his joy at finding Polia is short-lived: on the island of Kythera, the birthplace of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, she slips away, and he realises that it was all just a dream. This allegorical novel by Francesco Colonna was published in Venice in 1499 and was met with an enthusiastic reception, not least because of the many delightful woodcuts. The French translation by Jean Martin became a bestseller of its time, with rich illustrations modelled on the woodcuts of the Italian first edition.

April 29 – June 15, 2025

Dachstein: The disappearance of the glaciers

The winner of our most recent online voting "Once upon a time … " for the special exhibit is object 2: "Dachstein: The disappearance of the glaciers" (photograph, 1885). The winning object will be on display in the State Hall of the Austrian National Library from April 29 to June 15, 2025 and will be presented at an expert lecture (in German) on May 6, 2025.

Since the beginning of the 19th century, the Alps and their glaciers had become a popular subject of scientific research. Friedrich Simony (1813–1896), a geographer from northern Bohemia, is regarded as the pioneer of glacier research (glaciology). Simony climbed the summit of the Dachstein in Hallstatt more than eleven times until the ripe old age of 72, exploring it extensively. He also documented the retreat of the Karls ice field shown in the photo, which became particularly noticeable from 1879 on when a rocky ridge became visible in the receding glacier. Simony, later professor of geology at the University of Vienna, recorded the melting of the glacier between 1876 and 1889 with precise drawings and photographs. This pioneering work marked the beginning of modern glacier and climate research and documented the onset of climate change.