Pestsäule, Vienna

The Vienna Plague is a baroque Holy Trinity Column at the Graben ( a so- named road train ) in the center of Vienna. It was built by a plague epidemic in 1679 and is one of the best known and most recognizable of plastic art in the city.

History

1679 raged in Vienna one of the last great plague. Promised To escape from the city, Emperor Leopold I, the establishment of a mercy column at the end of the plague. That same year, a provisional wooden column by Johann Frühwirth was inaugurated, which was a mercy seat on a Corinthian column and nine angels ( for the nine choirs of angels ). 1683 was awarded the contract for the marble design to Matthias Müller smoke, but already in 1686 and died a few angels left. After numerous new plans, including by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach, on the back the program, the base figures came. Ultimately, the project manager Paul Strudel was transferred, which was based on that of the theater engineer Lodovico Ottavio Burnacini program. Burnacini saw beneath the Trinity before a cloud pyramid with angel figures and a figure of faith, kneeling before a praying Emperor Leopold. Among the participating sculptors were also Tobias Kracker and Johann Bendel. 1693 could then be dedicated to the column.

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 evolved from a simple and conservative devotion column to a highly baroque staging, in which an event is said theatrically. Thus, it represents the transition into a new artistic phase represents the Wiener Plague was formative and was followed throughout the monarchy.

Iconographic program

The column has a complex iconographic program whose basic message is that through personal devotion and intercession of the Emperor, the plague and the Ottomans (Second Siege of Vienna 1683), both of which were rated as God's punishment for a sin exemplary life, avoided or defeated could be. The column thus also provides a ( Victory ) monument to Leopold I. dar. In the program, the Trinity expressed more than once in the number three, namely vertically in three stages:

In addition, a tripartite division in the plan takes place, which establishes a relationship between sacred program and the three sub- kingdoms of the Habsburg Monarchy:

Inscriptions and translations

At the Plague several Latin inscriptions are attached.

On the three narrow sides of the three persons of the Trinity is meant:

Inscription on the southwest side

The inscription on the southwest side, parallel to the road of the trench is partially obscured by the group of figures in front.

Tibi Regi Soeculorum immortali: Uni In Essentia Et Trini In personis, deodorant Infinite Bono, Aeterno Et Immenso, Cuius Dexterae Omnia Sunt possibilia, Cuius Sapientiae Nihil Est Absconditum, Cuius Providentia In Sua Dispositione Non Fallitur, Cuius maiestate Impletur universe Cuius Misericordia Super Omnia 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 his right hand, anything is possible, whose wisdom nothing is hidden, whose providence is not mistaken in their arrangements through whose majesty the universe is satisfied, whose mercy is over all actions.

Inscription on the north side

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

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

You, the holy and indivisible Trinity: I Leopold, your humble servant, I thank you so much I can, that by thy highest quality the disastrous plague epidemic from this city and the country Austria was averted in 1679: and as permanent sign of proper gratitude I dedicate this monument to you humbly.

Inscription on the east side

The following inscription is on the Stephansplatz facing east:

Suscipe Clementissime Deus, Servi Tui Demisse Te Adorantis Vota: Et Me, Coniugem, Libero, Domumque MEAM: Populos Et Exercitus Meos: Regna Ac Provincias: Continua Misericordiae tuae Protectione Guberna, Custodi, Defende! Ita VoVI: Anno Domini nostri Salvatoris of Jesus Christ

Suppose kindest God, the vows of thy servant who adores you humbly: And me, my wife, my children and my house, my peoples and armies, kingdoms and provinces: Lenke guarding, defending in the everlasting protection of your mercy! So I have vowed in the year of our Lord, our Savior Jesus Christ.

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