Palais Kinsky

The Palais Kinsky, also known as the Palais Daun- Kinsky, located on the Freyung 4 in the inner city at the junction of Lord Street. It is one of the most important baroque palaces in Vienna.

History

The palace was built in 1713-1719 by Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt for Field Marshal Wirich Philipp Graf Daun, - in the period after eliminating the threat of the Ottoman Empire, when Vienna was gloriosa. On May 7, 1763 Prince Józef Antoni Poniatowski, the Polish General and Marshal of France, was born here. In 1764 it was purchased by Count Khevenhüller. In 1784 came to Rosa Countess Kinsky. For a time it was a base of the City Guard, a precursor to the police. After 1945, an Officers' Club of the British occupation force was housed in the Palais. Today the palace is owned by Karl Wlaschek; in the second courtyard of the house is the Wlaschek Mausoleum. According to Vienna's law may be erected tombs in its own grounds with an area of 2000m ². The Wlaschek availed to give the Palais Kinsky a mausoleum for his family in order. Here now rest not only his parents but also his fourth wife, who died in 2003.

Shaping

The remarkable façade with a portal based on Roman models was with their decorative elements until well into the 19th century influential in Vienna.

Equally remarkable is the interior with the staircase (draft probably by Antonio Beduzzi ) and the frescoed ceilings on the main floor. These are works by Carlo Carlone - with quadrature painting by Marcantonio Chiarini - and represent the apotheosis of Count Daun represents the staircase opens up here in two superimposed, interrupted by a respective intermediate landing runs two main floors, which are summarized in the façade with a giant order of eight pilasters. The last bullet is marked on the inside of the stairwell by a wraparound balcony, which forms a kind of framing for the ceiling fresco and the illusory perspective of the image above can still appear floating and unreal.

The sculptures inside as probably also the figures on the outer gateway originates from Joseph Kracker. The side wings were rebuilt several times in the 19th century, the equipment comes from, among others, Rudolf Weyr.

The Stonemasons Hans Georg Haresleben and Simon Sass Laber Kaisersteinbruch created from Kaiserstein including the main gate, the steps of the grand staircase, door and window blocks and base plates.