Nicotiana

Christopher Columbus’ landfall in America in 1492 introduced the Old World to a totally new form of stimulant – tobacco. Initially cultivated as a decorative plant in Spanish botanical gardens, tobacco was later praised for its medicinal properties. It was not until the late sixteenth century that Europeans began to smoke tobacco in clay pipes modeled on those used by Native Americans.

The exhibition – on show from May 7 until July 12 - documents four centuries of the rich and varied history of consuming tobacco, which led to the production of many different accessories of remarkable craftsmanship as well as numerous artworks. A selection of works from the holdings of the Collection JTI/Austria Tabak, and from the Kunsthistorisches Museum illustrate the fascinating cultural history of this perennially popular as well as controversial stimulant.