Vienna plague column

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Vienna plague column
South view of the plague column
Detail from the upper section of the plague column
Detail of the base of the plague column (coat of arms of Hungary with the coats of arms of Croatia and Dalmatia )
Statue of Emperor Leopold I, commonly known Fotzenpoidl called

The Vienna Plague Column is a trinity column on the Graben (a so-called street) in downtown Vienna . It was built after the plague epidemic of 1679 and was consecrated on October 29, 1693. The 21 meter high baroque column is one of the most famous and distinctive sculptural works of art in the city.

history

In 1679 one of the last great plague epidemics raged in Vienna. While fleeing the city, Emperor Leopold I vowed to erect a pillar of mercy at the end of the plague epidemic. In the same year, a temporary wooden column by the sculptor Johann Frühwirth (1640–1701) was inaugurated, showing a mercy seat on a Corinthian column and nine angel figures (for the nine choirs of angels ). In 1683 the order for the marble work went to Mathias Rauchmiller , who died in 1686 and left behind some angel figures. This was followed by numerous new plans, including by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach , to whom the program of plinth figures goes back. Ultimately, the project management was assigned to Paul Strudel , who relied on the program of the theater engineer Lodovico Ottavio Burnacini . Burnacini envisaged a cloud pyramid with figures of angels and a figure of faith beneath the Trinity, in front of which a praying emperor Leopold kneels. Tobias Kracker and Johann Bendel were among the sculptors involved . In 1693 the column could then be consecrated.

Despite the long construction period, the plan changes and the number of sculptors involved, the monument makes a homogeneous impression. During the planning period, it has changed from a simple and conservative prayer column to a high baroque staging in which an event is narrated theatrically. It thus represents the transition into a new artistic phase. The Viennese plague column was style-defining and was imitated throughout the monarchy.

To protect it from indirect damage, it was walled in during World War II .

In the course of the Corona crisis , the Vienna plague column became a central point of contact in the city, where numerous candles, children's drawings and prayer texts were placed with the request for a mild outcome to the pandemic.

Iconographic program

The column has a complicated iconographic program, the basic message of which is that the plague and the Ottomans ( Second Turkish siege of Vienna in 1683), both of which were assessed as God's punishment for a sinful life, were averted or defeated by the personal piety and intercession of the emperor could become. The column thus also represents a (victory) monument to Leopold I. In the program, the trinity expresses itself several times in the number three, namely vertically in three stages:

  1. in the pedestal reserved for humans, in the upper third of which Leopold I prays to God as an intercessor,
  2. in the area belonging to angels as mediators between God and man, as well as
  3. in the highest degree reserved for the Holy Trinity.

In addition, the floor plan is divided into three parts, which creates a connection between the sacred program and the three parts of the Habsburg Monarchy:

  1. The western wing is dedicated to God the Father and bears a double-headed eagle, the coat of arms of the Holy Roman Empire , as well as the coats of arms of the inner Austrian states, the duchies of Styria , Carinthia and Carniola . Between the western and eastern wings are the coats of arms of Austria above the Enns and Austria below the Enns , the core countries of the monarchy.
  2. The eastern wing is assigned to the Son of God and bears the coats of arms of the kingdoms of Hungary , Croatia and Dalmatia , as well as Bosnia .
  3. The northern wing belonging to the Holy Spirit is decorated with the coats of arms of the Kingdom of Bohemia , the Margraviate of Upper Lusatia and Lower Lusatia , as well as the Duchy of Silesia .

Inscriptions and translations

Inscription with chronogram on the east side

There are several Latin inscriptions on the plague column.

The three persons of the Trinity are commemorated on the three narrow sides:

  1. Deo Patri Creatori God the Father the Creator
  2. Deo Filio Redemptori God the Son the Redeemer
  3. Deo Spiritui Sanctificatori God the Spirit, the sanctifying

Inscription on the southwest side

The inscription on the southwest side, parallel to the course of the road in the ditch, is partially covered by the group of figures in front of it.

Tibi Regi Soeculorum Immortali: Uni In Essentia Et Trini In Personis, Deo Infinite Bono, Aeterno Et Immenso, Cuius Dexterae Omnia Sunt Possibilia, Cuius Sapientiae Nihil Est Absconditum, Cuius Providentia In Sua Dispositione Non Fallitur, Cuius Maiestate Impleturia Universum Opera.

You, the immortal King of the times, one in essence and three in person, the God: the infinitely good, the eternal and immeasurable, for whose right hand everything is possible, whose wisdom nothing remains hidden, whose providence does not err in its arrangements by whose majesty the universe is filled, whose mercy is above all action.

Inscription on the north side

On the north side, facing St. Peter's Square, there is the following inscription:

Tibi, inquam, Sanctissimae ac Individuae Trinitati: Ego Leopoldus Humilis Servus Tuus Gratias ago, Quas Possum, Maximas Pro Aversa Anno .MDCLXXIX. Per Summam Benignitatem Tuam Ab Hac Vrbe Et Avstriae Provincia, Dirae Pestis Lue: Atque in Perpetuam Debitae Gratitudinis tesseram, Praesens Monumentum Demississime Consecro

To you, the most holy and indivisible Trinity: I Leopold, your humble servant, I thank you as much as I can for the fact that in 1679 the ominous plague was averted from this city and the country of Austria through your greatest kindness: and as As a constant sign of due gratitude, I humbly dedicate this monument to you.

Inscription on the east side

The following inscription can be found on the east side facing Stephansplatz:

Suscipe Clementissime Deus, Servi Tui Demisse Te Adorantis Vota: Et Me, Coniugem, Liberos, Domumque Meam: Populos Et Exercitus Meos: Regna Ac Provincias: Continua Misericordiae Tuae Protectione Guberna, Custodi, Defende! Ita VoVI: anno DoMInI saLVatorIs NostrI IesU ChrIstI

Accept, most gracious God, the vows of your servant who humbly worships you: And me, my wife, my children and my house, my peoples and armies, kingdoms and provinces: guide, guard, defend in the everlasting protection of your mercy! This is how I vowed in [1679] the Lord our Redeemer Jesus Christ.

The year 1679 is not explicitly given, but encoded as a chronogram : In the last four lines of the inscription (from "Ita VoVI") the sum of the capital letters, read as Roman numerals , gives the year.

literature

  • Gerolf Coudenhove : The Vienna plague column. Attempt at an interpretation. Herold, Vienna et al. 1958.
  • Reingard Witzmann: The plague column on the Graben in Vienna. = The plague column on the Graben in Vienna. = Colonna della peste a Vienna (= Viennese history sheets. Supplement. 4, 2005). Association for the History of the City of Vienna, Vienna 2005, ISBN 3-8258-9582-3 .

Web link

Commons : Vienna Plague Column  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ CoV: Candles and prayers at the plague column. In: orf.at. March 25, 2020, accessed March 25, 2020 .
  2. ↑ Thomas Winkelbauer : 1522–1699, freedom of classes and princely power. Countries and subjects of the House of Habsburg in the denominational age (= Herwig Wolfram (Hrsg.): Österreichische Geschichte. ). Part 2. Ueberreuter, Vienna 2003, ISBN 3-8000-3987-7 , p. 189 ff.

Coordinates: 48 ° 12 ′ 31.35 "  N , 16 ° 22 ′ 11.27"  E