Established in 1707, Dorotheum is a renowned auction house with its headquarters nestled in the Dorotheergasse 17 in the 1st district of Vienna, Innere Stadt. It holds the distinction of being the largest auction house for art and applied art in Central Europe and the German-speaking region. Beyond auctions, Dorotheum's operations also extend to trading and traditional pawnbroking, making it a multifaceted institution in the world of art and commerce.

Dorotheum's auctions encompass a wide array of items, including paintings, graphic works, sculptures, and objects of applied art, particularly furniture, porcelain, and jewelry from various centuries. These items are exhibited in showrooms before being auctioned, and catalogs are available in both printed and digital versions. The auction house also maintains sales rooms for direct purchases.

The Dorotheum was founded as the "Versatzamt zu Wien" in 1707 by Emperor Joseph I, marking the birth of the first auction house. Initially, the majority of its revenue came from forced auctions, which were conducted within a narrow circle that was largely inaccessible to the general public. Eighty years later, it moved to the former Dorotheum monastery, from which it derived its current name. By the end of the 19th century, it primarily auctioned artworks, books, coins, and stamps.

The Dorotheum's building, constructed in a neoclassical style, was sold to an Austrian consortium in 2001. Since then, the Dorotheum has been on a path of significant expansion. It has branches in 12 districts of Vienna, in Austrian federal states (Dornbirn, Graz, Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, Linz, Pasching, Salzburg, Wiener Neustadt, St. Pölten), and has representatives in Prague (since 1992), Brussels (since 1996), Düsseldorf and Munich (since 2003), Milan (since 2005), and Rome (since 2008), as well as contacts in Zagreb, Florence, and a representation in Tokyo. The Dorotheum employs over 700 people worldwide, including 100 art experts, and conducts approximately 600 auctions annually, which generate about 60% of its total turnover.

The Dorotheum's history is not without its dark chapters. After Austria's annexation by the German Reich in March 1938, the Dorotheum, like other state institutions and auction houses, was taken over. The old management was dismissed and replaced by NSDAP party members Anton Jennewein and Franz Hofbauer. All Jewish employees were dismissed. The Dorotheum profited economically from the Nazi regime, especially through the auction of "Aryanized" movable property and household goods.

In the wake of its privatization in 2001, the Dorotheum has taken steps to address its past. It has established a department for provenance research, making it the first and only auction house in the German-speaking area to do so. It has also intensified its cooperation with victim associations and, in particular, the Israelite Cultural Community of Vienna.

Today, the Dorotheum continues to thrive as a hub for art and culture. It hosts regular auctions of Modern Art in Vienna featuring works by Alberto Giacometti, Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, Max Ernst, Alexei Jawlensky, and many others. It also offers exclusive limited editions from well-known artists and brands, art, and antiques available for purchase. With over 300 years of experience, the Dorotheum remains a significant player in the world of art and auctions, a testament to its enduring legacy and commitment to the arts.