The Planetary Room

A star-studded spectacle

The highlight of the state rooms is the Planetary Room, which was completed in 1685 and which received its name from the cycle of paintings by the court artist Hans Adam Weissenkircher. With its complex artistic programme, which merged astrological and hermetical ideas, number symbolism and family mythology to form a complex allegory to glorify the Eggenberg dynasty, the Planetary Room is ranked among the most impressive pieces of early Baroque interior decoration in Central Europe.

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Planet paintings

The cycle of paintings by the court artist Hans Adam Weissenkircher is an allegory of the Golden Age under the rule of the Eggenberg family. The paintings of the seven known planets of the time, which also included the moon, are central to the room's allegorical theme. Grouped around the central sun they embellish the vaulted ceiling, the corners of which are decorated with the representations of the four elements. The twelve signs of the zodiac depicted in large oil paintings complete the scene on the walls of the Planetary Room. Hans Adam Weissenkircher allocated the seven celestial bodies known at the time to the days of the week, seven alchemistic metals, seven coats of arms of the Eggenberg family and the seven most important members of the family. Sophisticated astrological ideas concerning the workings of the universe at the time built on the ancient system of the "theory of signatures", according to which each planet not only has its "children", but also plants, animals, minerals, locations and activities, colours and shapes. All terrestrial manifestations were therefore able to be allocated to a planet.

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Planet paintings

Sun

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Jupiter

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Venus

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Mercury

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Mars

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Moon

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Saturn

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Signs of the zodiac

The twelve signs of the zodiac, which are at the same time also reminiscent of the twelve months of the year, were selected as the theme for the wall decorations in the Planetary Room in addition to the celestial programme. The paintings show the signs of the zodiac together with mythical stories as to how they came into being.