Singapore - It has a castle in the clouds, a princely family and a breathtaking aristocratic collection of art but the Alpine principality of Liechtenstein is not an imaginary land in a fairy tale.

The small yet influential independent state is a key player in international finance and industry, and increasingly in the area of arts and culture as its Princely Collections of priceless European art shows around the world.

The treasures debut in South-east Asia at the National Museum of Singapore on Thursday.

On show are 91 works of art ranging from paintings and sculpture to tapestry and decorative objects. Among them are masterpieces by artists Raphael, Peter Paul Rubens and Anthony van Dyck.

The works span the late 15th to mid-19th century and highlight artistic periods such as the High Renaissance, Baroque and Biedermeier.

Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein, 45, says: "The Princely Collections is very much on one side joy for the family... but it's also something we like to share with others.

"It's a very well-known collection, one of the most important private collections in the world and it works as a kind of ambassador for Liechtenstein, for the family."

He adds that for both Liechtenstein and Singapore, sharing the same challenges as small states - Liechtenstein is about one fifth the size of Singapore - with similar economies has "established a very close relationship" and cooperation between the two on economic and political fronts.

"So we are very happy now that on the cultural side, we can also tighten our relationship and further deepen it," says Prince Alois.

The principality, located between Switzerland and Austria, has a population of about 36,500. It has a constitutional monarchy and operates on a democratic and parliamentary system.

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The exhibition in Singapore is sponsored by the LGT Group, the private banking and asset management group of the princely family of Liechtenstein.

On the debut of the Princely Collections at the National Museum of Singapore, its director Lee Chor Lin, 50, says: "The Princely Collections is the pride and joy of Liechtenstein and for them to bring 91 works to a country that's never been known for artistic excellence until recently... it shows how important this is in the progress of the bilateral relationship between Singapore and Liechtenstein."

She adds that for the museum, the exhibition of princely treasures is part of its "endless quest for excellence".

She also hopes it will bring the level of art appreciation among the museum's audience to new heights following recent blockbuster shows such as an exhibition of Impressionist and post-Impressionist paintings from the Musee d'Orsay last year.

Beyond highlighting the sumptuousness of the heirlooms, Ms Lee says the exhibition will also showcase the princely family. "I think it's just remarkable that this family has kept its wealth for so many centuries through trials and tribulations."

The Liechtenstein dynasty dates as far back as the 12th century. Its history is closely linked to the Habsburg Emperors, with family members serving as advisers to the royal family in Vienna.

But its fortunes were hit by World War II. More than 80 per cent of its assets were located in Moravia and Bohemia and they were lost during the war due to expropriation in Czechoslovakia.

The family, however, managed to relocate much of its art collection, begun in the 17th century, to Liechtenstein and Switzerland for safekeeping.

Still, parts of it had to be sold off after the war to rebuild the princely family's finances. Among the works sold is Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting, Ginevra de Benci, which went to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC in 1967 for US$5 million (S$6.3 million).

By the 1970s, with the family fortunes rebuilt and reorganised, the reigning Prince Hans-Adam II was able to buy back artworks and purchase new pieces to fill gaps in the collection.

Some 700 artworks were added to the collection over the last 30 years including the monumental 18th-century Badminton Cabinet.

The exquisitely crafted ebony chest, inlaid with semi-precious stones, was acquired in 2004 at a Christie's auction for about 27.5 million euros (S$45.3 million), setting the record for the most expensive piece of furniture sold under hammer.

The director of the Princely Collections, Dr Johann Kraftner, 62, says: "What is really unique is that while other collections are taken over by states or have states caring for them, here is a collection that is completely in private hands and it is a growing, living collection, not just in number but also in quality."

The collection today comprises about 1,700 paintings and tens of thousands of decorative objects and furniture.

Some of the works grace the walls and rooms of the august 13th-century castle where the princely family lives in the Liechtenstein capital, Vaduz.

Others are displayed in lavish rooms and galleries at the splendidly restored Liechtenstein Garden Palace and City Palace in Vienna. The works are available for viewing as part of pre-booked guided tours or when the palaces are rented out for high-end private events.

For the exhibition in Singapore, however, the works will not be displayed in galleries that recreate the plush look and feel of their settings in the Liechtenstein palaces.

Instead, they will be shown in modern, elegant spaces that incorporate abstract elements of Baroque architecture.

Ms Lee says: "We had to take an essentialist approach in terms of design because we can never replicate the opulence."

Dr Kraftner, who lauds the fresh design, says: "If you put these things in a very heavy historic context, it becomes for young people and the people of Singapore, who come from a completely different culture, something from on Monday.

"But with a modern approach... Even though it is the same stuff, I think it touches people much more. It's in a new context and everyone will be able to get into the paintings and understand them better."

Book it

PRINCELY TREASURES FROM THE HOUSE OF LIECHTENSTEIN

Where: Exhibition Gallery, basement, National Museum of Singapore, 93 Stamford Road

When: Thursday to Sept 29, 10am to 6pm daily

Admission: $10 (excludes entry to other galleries in the museum), free for citizens and permanent residents who are students, teachers, seniors, national servicemen and children aged six and below

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Photos: LGT Group, Liechtenstein, ST, Reuters, AFP

Click here to view the gallery.