Ad00341 05 082a/eng
Die Statue Joseph II. vor der Kaiserlichen Burg in Wien
Beschreibungstext eng
Misc. Subj. CXXII. Vol. VI. No. 80., EQUESTRIAN STATUE OF JOSEPH II, BEFORE THE IMPERIAL PALACE IN VIENNA., The present Emperor of Austria, his Majesty Francis I. determined to get erected a magnificent monument to the memory of his great uncle, Joseph II, who exceedingly deserved it of his nation by introducing useful arts and sciences. The Emperor desired this monument to consist of Joseph's equestrian statue of bronze, supported by a pedestal of granite, in order to embellish Joseph's place, before the imperial palace in Vienna. Mr. Zauner, a celebrated statuary in Vienna, was charged with this commission. After 11 jears of work the whole was finished in the most perfect manner, as the present view exhibits, and consecrated on Joseph's place the 24. of Nov. 1807, in the presence of the imperial family. The Emperor Joseph is seated on horseback, in the roman manner announcing his protection to his subjects by the extended right hand. Besides the tables of inscription there are on the pedestal two Basreliefs of bronze, relative to Joseph's merits. The opposite side refers to the freedom and Improvements which Joseph granted to the Trade of Austria. The height of the whole monument amounts to 33 feet, 8 inches ; that of the horse to I3feet; the Fig. ure of the Emperor is inheight II feet. The group of the horse with the Fig. ure of bronze has 400 quintals of weight. This statue is a beautiful monument of german art, worthy of being transmitted to the remotest posterity.
