Statues - Hither & Thither

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Burggarten (1.)

Kaiser Franz I. Stephan von Lothringen

Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor

(Nancy 1708 - Innsbruck 1765)
Holy Roman Emperor and Grand Duke of Tuscany, though his wife Maria Theresa effectively executed the real powers of those positions
(Wikipedia)

Balthasar Ferdinand Moll
1780

Wien / Kaiser Franz I. Stephan von Lothringen

Description

Lead equestrian statue.

Inscription(s)

divi francisci i. rom. imp.
statvae
franciscvs i. avst. imp.
avi opti maximi memoriam veneratvs
hunc locvm optavit
vt in svorvm conspectv semper esset
m.d.ccc.xix

This statue
of the late Francis I, Roman Emperor
was placed in this location
by Francis I, Emperor of Austria,
honouring the memory of the best and greatest grandfather
that he always will be in the presence of his family,
1819

Signed: (twice) B. Moll / Fecit / 1780

Annotation

Construction of this statue of lead has been started during the lifetime of the emperor, but was only in 1780, 15 years after his death, completed. Since it was not bought by the Court, however, it stayed in the family of the artist Balthasar Ferdinand Moll. In 1797, it was erected in the Paradeisgartl on the Löwelbastei from where it was taken in 1819 to the Burggarten. At that time it was provided with a new stone base and inscription.
It is the oldest equestrian statue in Vienna.

Sculptor

Balthasar Ferdinand Moll (Innsbruck 1717 - Wien 1785), Austrian sculptor (Wikipedia).

Sources & Information

Kunst und Kultur Wien, Denkmäler im Bereich der Wiener Ringstraße.
Wikipedia, Burggarten (Wien).
Stadt Wien, Kulturgut.
Kees van Tilburg, From Marcus Aurelius to Kim Jong-il: The story of equestrian statues throughout the ages (Amstelveen, 2017). – see also the Equestrian statue website.

Locatie (N 48°12'16" - E 16°21'54") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

Item Code: atwi026; Photograph: 9 September 2012
Of each statue we made photos from various angles and also detail photos of the various texts.
If you want to use photos, please contact us via the contact form (in Dutch, English or German).
© Website and photos: René & Peter van der Krogt

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