The most popular paintings from the Residenzgalerie collection
In response to the change of plans for the “DomQuartier NEU” construction project, during the final months before the Residenzgalerie Salzburg closes at the end of April 2026, it is mounting a further exhibition from its top-class collection. The most popular paintings are displayed under the title Best-sellers.
Viewers’ favourites were determined using recent access data on the website and the sales figures for merchandising articles such as art postcards.
On the one hand, the Best-sellers presentation reflects the academic view of the five painting genres that have evolved over the centuries, a historical distinction being made between genres with “high” or “low” prestige. From the 17th until well into the 19th century, history painting was considered the most distinguished genre, followed by portrait painting, then the “lower classes” of genre painting, landscape and still life. On the other hand, the exhibition follows the preferences of purchasers, who have often shown a different opinion.
This trend is also evident in the access data and figures.
Choose your personal No. 1 from the five category winners in the exhibition.
Curators: Astrid Ducke, Thomas Habersatter
