The pretext was the wedding of Prince Elector Frederick Augustus II (Augustus III of Poland) to the daughter of the Habsburg Emperor, Archduchess Maria Joseph. At that time, the Zwinger already had buildings with unfinished interiors, and the garden pavilions and their arcaded galleries provided a striking backdrop for the ceremony.
The interiors of the buildings were not finished until 728, and by then they could already serve as exhibition galleries and library rooms.
