The Blood of Medusa
The Corals of Ambras Castle
Special Presentation
26 June 2026–31 October 2026
For centuries corals fascinate as nature’s mysterious treasures. Created in collaboration with the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien this special presentation is dedicated to Archduke Ferdinand II’s unique collection of corals and draws attention to the threat climate change poses to coral reefs.
Cabinet of Coral
Second half of the 16th century
Coral (a.o. Corallium rubrum), mother-of-pearl, pearls, wood, glass
Ambras Castle Innsbruck
© KHM-Museumsverband
Coral branch
16th century
Red precious coral (Corallium rubrum);
Base: plaster, wood
Ambras Castle Innsbruck
© KHM-Museumsverband
Writing set with coral
Second half of the 16th century
Silver, coral Kunsthistorisches Museum,
Kunstkammer (Ambras Castle Innsbruck)
Small table from Trapani
Inlay: red and white coral, enamel, brass
circa 1600
Ambras Castle Innsbruck
© KHM-Museumsverband
Coral mountain: Martinswand near Zirl
Coral (Corallium rubrum, among others), wood, plaster, linen, painted
3rd quarter of the 16th century
Ambras Castle Innsbruck
© KHM-Museumsverband
Infanta Maria Anna of Spain
Juan Pantoja de la Cruz,
1607
Oil on canvas
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Picture Gallery (Ambras Castle Innsbruck)
© KHM-Museumsverband
Coral saber with scabbard
red precious coral (Corallium rubrum), steel, gold-plated, velvet, brass
circa 1560
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Imperial Armory (Ambras Castle Innsbruck)
© KHM-Museumsverband
Contact
Public Relations & Communications
+43 1 525 24 – 4802
info@schlossambras-innsbruck.at